Commissioners proclaim October Domestic Violence Awareness Month

During its session Tuesday, Oct. 7, the Wahkiakum County Commissioners voted unanimously on a proclamation approving October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Prior to the vote, Commissioner Gene Strong read the proclamation in its entirety. The document states, “Domestic violence affects more than just one group of people. It is a crime that harms individuals of all races, genders, sexual identity, ages, and socioeconomic levels. Domestic violence is a cycle of abuse and places a huge burden on its survivors with impacts that can be felt financially, physically, and psychologically.” Referring specifically to those who have been affected by domestic violence as well as those inflicting it, the proclamation states, “We must support survivors of domestic violence as they recover and regain their autonomy and sense of safety…The perpetrators of these crimes should be held accountable and educated to help break the cycles of abuse…Preventing domestic violence requires the collective voice and power of individuals, families, institutions, and systems, each whose voice adds a valuable and powerful component to transforming our communities.”

The proclamation noted St. James Family Center’s community sexual assault program, The Charlotte House, which, according to its site, “provides life-saving resources to survivors of domestic violence every day through a variety of free and confidential services to adults and children, all working to support the safety and empowerment of survivors of domestic violence.”

The Charlotte House offers both legal and medical advocacy as well. For the legal, this includes “assisting survivors in obtaining and completing protection orders, accompanying survivors to court, as well as prosecution and defense interviews, informing clients of their legal rights, and refering survivors to legal services.” For medical, The Charlotte House’s advocacy includes “accompany survivors to medical exams, providing information and referral for medical assistance and follow-up appointments, and informing clients of their medical rights.” With respect to services for victims of sexual assault, The Charlotte House offers services including “legal advocacy for both criminal and civil law/cases, transportation assistance, and referrals to housing, employment, and legal assistance, and ongoing safety planning.” According to the website, “all advocacy is survivor based and focuses on the needs and wants of the survivor.”

Prior to the commissioners’ vote, The Charlotte House Shelter Manager Lauryn Roberts stated, “Throughout the month, we will be doing multiple activities in the community, bringing awareness to domestic violence. Around town, we’ve put up a couple of ribbons, and businesses have put up purple lights in support.”

Wahkiakum County Sheriff John Mason said, “The Charlotte House definitely provides an amazing service to all the victims. We respond to the event, do the investigation, and we might take someone to jail and have to follow up with the paperwork afterwards, but they’re there. They give the victim the resources and the empowerment they need to truly break the cycle, and I’ve seen this a hundred times in this county with The Charlotte House. They’re amazing and thank you for signing that proclamation.”

For more information on The Charlotte House, visit stjamesfc.org.