Board of County Commissioners proclaim October 2019 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, October 11, 2019
Contact: Jessie Knudsen, jessie.knudsen@co.thurston.wa.us
Olympia, WA -- October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Domestic violence is a serious crime that includes both physical and emotional abuse. Many victims suffer in silence, afraid to seek help or unsure of where to turn. The traumatic effects of domestic violence ripple throughout communities and impact families, individuals and children. In Thurston County domestic violence referrals to the Prosecuting Attorney's Office have consistently increased every year since 2014.
To call attention to this critical issue and to help raise awareness about the devastating consequences of domestic violence, the Thurston County Board of Commissioners has proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
"Domestic violence destroys families and weakens communities, with impacts that span generations," Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney's Office Domestic Violence Team Lead Jennifer Lords said. "This month provides an opportunity to bring awareness to this serious issue and share information about available support."
The Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney's Office Domestic Violence Team is located within the Family Justice Center (FJC) at the Family Support Center of South Sound. Prosecutors at the FJC work collaboratively with community partners such as the Sheriff's Office, local resource providers and the County Clerk's Office to support survivors of domestic violence, increase survivor safety, and hold domestic violence perpetrators accountable. The partners working together at the Family Justice Center are committed to building strong, healthy, safe, and hopeful families through six collaborative programs and multiple services, utilizing a “one-stop-shop” model.
For more information about domestic violence and resources in Thurston County, visit http://fscss.org/services/fjc/. If you or someone who know is a victim of domestic violence, you can reach the Family Support Center at (360) 754-9297.