Belmont County Declares October Domestic Violence Awareness Month

ST. CLAIRSVILLE - The Belmont County Board of Commissioners declared October Domestic Violence Awareness Month Wednesday.

Commissioner Jerry Echemann read a proclamation declaring the month to honor domestic violence survivors.

Echemann said Domestic Violence Awareness Month is observed each October to raise awareness about the prevalence and impact of domestic violence, which affects millions of Americans and impacts every community, including Belmont County.

He added it is essential to hold perpetrators accountable, challenge the attitudes and behaviors allowing domestic violence to occur and create systems where abuse is not tolerated.

"Every person has a right to live in a safe, nonviolent home and community where all individuals can live with dignity, safety, and respect," Echemann said. "Domestic violence is a serious and pervasive community issue that affects individuals and families of every race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geographic location, and socio-economic background."

He added domestic violence has a profound and lasting impact on survivors, children, families and communities. Echemann said one in three teenagers, one in four women, and one in seven men experience domestic violence during their lifetime, and approximately one in 15 children are exposed to domestic violence each year.

During the meeting, Tri-County Help Center community education advocate Misty Klug said the help center was a grassroots movement started in 1979. She said the movement was created by women in the community who saw other women in abusive situations with no resources available.

Klug said the center has a shelter providing victims a safe place to stay at an undisclosed location, known as Peg’s House.

"We offer legal advocacy, trauma-informed mental health counseling, safety planning, and we have a 24-hour hotline for survivors. If you call that number, somebody’s going to answer it, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and we’re very proud of that," Klug said.

The hotline answered 267 calls in 2025, Klug said.

"One of the reasons that I talked about our history is because I want to move us forward to the present, because we would think that since 1979, things have gotten better with domestic violence. That we have evolved, and these things are not occurring. Sadly, that is not the case," Klug said. "In the state of Ohio, in 2025, there were 157 domestic violence deaths."

She added the youngest victim was four months old and the oldest was 89 years old.

Klug said in 2025, 92 minor children lost a parent, 76 lost a grandparent, and 36 children witnessed a parent’s murder.

"This isn’t 1979 stats. This is 2025 in the state in which we live," Klug said.

She added domestic violence may also include emotional, psychological, sexual and financial abuse. Additionally, patterns of intimidation, coercion, and other behaviors intended to harm or instill fear also count as domestic violence.

The commissioner's proclamation said the financial impact of domestic violence through lifetime economic costs associated with the medical services, lost productivity for paid work, criminal justice and other costs is 3.6 trillion dollars.

Klug added domestic violence can happen anywhere and shouldn’t be ignored. She said everybody knows someone who has been affected by domestic violence.

On Oct. 20, Tri-County Help Center will be hosting a United in Purple rally at the Kevin Barr Event Center.

In previous years, attendees marched from the event center to the Belmont County Courthouse. Klug said this year's rally will instead be at the event center from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. to be more inclusive for residents with mobility issues.

Afterward, Tri-County Help Center is also hosting a free community round table on Oct. 30 from noon until 2 p.m. at Ohio University Eastern. Emmy award winning former journalist and life coach Darieth Chisolm will speak at the round table.

Chisolm made the documentary “50 Shades of Silence” based on cyber abuse and revenge porn. The documentary will be screened at the event, followed up with a community round table discussion.