ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Belmont County Board of Commissioners declared October Domestic Violence Awareness Month on Wednesday after learning about how the issue impacts the local community.

Tri-County Help Center Program Facilitator JaQue Galloway and Community Education Coordinator Megan Talkington addressed the commissioners and provided information on the center and the events it has planned to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Tri-County Help Center operates in Belmont, Harrison and Monroe counties, offering several services. It offers mental health services, case management, domestic abuse intervention and parenting classes that are either court ordered or voluntarily.

“We offer advocacy services in all three counties, which could be helping someone file a civil protection order. Sometimes we sit in on divorce hearings or reactive abuse charges as well. We offer medical accompaniment seven days a week, 24 hours a day,” Talkington said. “So if someone goes to the hospital for sexual assault, we are able to be called out.”

She added that they also offer law enforcement accompaniment, meaning that if someone goes to the police department to report a sexual assault or domestic abuse someone from Tri-County Help Center will be able to sit in on the interviews.

The center also has a shelter at an undisclosed location that is always available for anyone needing access to a safe haven. Galloway also offers a support group on the first and third Wednesdays of each month in the center’s Belmont County office.

“We always kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month at the end of September with our proclamation reading where we ask the commissioners to encourage the county and community to engage in our services and then make referrals to support survivors,” Galloway said.

She added that Tri-County Help Center recently began a social media campaign called 31 Days, 31 Ways. The campaign calls on local businesses and community partners to post pictures of them supporting domestic violence awareness, however that looks to them. The center is asking the people participating in the social media campaign to follow and tag Tri-County Help Center on the pictures when posted. The center will post one of the tagged pictures on its social media per day in hopes of promoting the local businesses and raising more awareness of October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Oct. 14 will begin the National Week of Action, which will start with Tri-County having a field of flags displayed in all three counties it serves. Each flag at the displays will represent survivors as well as people who lost their lives to domestic violence. Galloway urges the community to take a few minutes to view the display in their county and recognize the number of flags being displayed. On Oct. 15, the center will host a Talk About It Tuesday on its social media. During Talk About It Tuesday, several posts will be shared from advocates stating facts as well as resources to support survivors of domestic violence.

On Oct. 16 the annual Domestic Violence Awareness March will take place. The march begins at 5:30 p.m. at Tri-County’s Belmont County office parking lot and will end at the Belmont County Courthouse. The brisk walk will conclude with a Remember My Name service that will honor those who have lost their lives to domestic violence in Belmont, Harrison and Monroe counties. On Oct. 17, the center is asking everyone to wear purple.

“We just ask that you wear purple because it’s the color of domestic violence awareness. If you could tag us on your social media, we would love to see it,” Galloway said.

According to Yale.ed, “Purple symbolizes survivors who were hurt by physical and emotional abuse but still go on to thrive and live a life free of violence.”

Commissioner J.P. Dutton asked Galloway and Talkington about the people they serve.

“When someone comes to you in a domestic violence situation, how often are there kids physically with them as they come through your doors?” he asked. “Is that more common or less common?”

Talkington responded, “I would definitely say it’s more common. We see a lot of kids in and out for sure.”

Belmont County Department of Job and Family Services Director Jeff Felton interjected, praising Tri-County Help Center for the services it provides.

Commissioner Jerry Echemann then read the proclamation declaring October to be Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“The Belmont County Board of Commissioners reaffirm the commitment of the County of Belmont and the State of Ohio to reducing violence in our homes, as well as our streets. We urge all citizens to participate in the activities planned by Tri-County Help Center Inc. during this month. Citizens should take this opportunity to educate themselves about the impact of domestic violence and to become familiar with resources and programs available.”