Officials proclaim October Domestic Violence Awareness Month
WAYNESBURG – Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania responded to more than 240 victims of domestic violence through its Greene County satellite office during the fiscal year ending in June.
“This is a problem that has been going on for a very long time and it’s not going away,” said Natalie Schwoerer, counselor/advocate for the organization. “It’s happening in Greene County, It’s happening everywhere around the world, and it’s not OK.”
Schwoerer spoke briefly Thursday at a meeting of the Greene County Commissioners, who approved a proclamation designating October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
According to the group, the satellite office in Greene County saw 243 victims of domestic violence, or about 20 a month, between July 2013 and June. The organization also serves Fayette and Washington counties, and during the same period responded to 377 victims in Fayette County and 793 victims in Washington County.
Schwoerer noted the previous symbol of domestic violence awareness was a purple ribbon and is slowly being retired. She presented the commissioners with pins and a magnet displaying the new “No More” symbol, a blue vanishing point.
The purple ribbon was a symbol of domestic violence awareness for many years, but it also became a symbol for many other organizations and causes, Schwoerer said.
“We wanted something a little more recognizable,” she said. “This is a vanishing point. We want to end domestic violence … We want to get that down to zero. No more.”
The Greene County satellite office is at 43 N. Morgan St., in Waynesburg.
In addition to serving victims, the office assisted in the filing of 89 Protection from Abuse orders, logged more than 450 hours of hotline and individual counseling hours and presented 61 domestic violence awareness programs to children and youth.
“Awareness of our services is an integral part of stopping the cycle of abuse,” said Cheryl McCready, satellite office coordinator.
Services the organization also offers include temporary shelter, transition housing,2 4 hour transportation and intake, counseling and support groups, information and referrals, legal advocacy, education and training programs and children’s programs
It’s 24-hour hotline number is 724-852-2463 or 800-791-4000.
Information also is available on the group’s website at www.peacefromdv.org.