Local governments proclaim October domestic violence awareness month

WASHINGTON — The Washington County Board of Supervisors and Washington City Council on Tuesday both voted unanimously to approve proclamations naming October “domestic violence awareness month,” urged by representatives from the Rape Victim Advocacy Program and Domestic Violence Intervention Program, two nonprofits that frequently deal with the issue in the region.

Advocates said their organizations had helped over 100 people, with over 767 service hours, over the last year in Washington County, and said the need for their services continued to rise.

“We’ve been in existence, our organization, for 45 years and we still regularly come up across people that don’t either believe that (domestic violence) exists, or are completely shocked to know how prevalent it is in their communities,” said Bronis Perteit, DVIP’s director of domestic violence services. “The awareness piece is critical because if you’re not aware that it exists, or to the degree that it is, then it makes it challenging to do all of the other things (like) prevention, education.”

Tuesday’s pair of proclamations, read by Board of Supervisors Chair Richard Young and Mayor Millie Youngquist at their respective meetings, noted that domestic abuse happens across cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, and said the issue in rural communities was a “hidden, silent, and often unrecognized crime, that is often unreported.”

DVIP Volunteer Coordinator and In-Kind Donations Manager Ally Tippe told Washington City Council Members that the groups were thankful for local governments’ show of support. She said the growing awareness of sexual assault and DVIP and RVAP services would help more people get the help they need.

“We have seen a 37% uptick in the need for services over the last five years and that only continues to grow as people continue to learn about our program, and access us,” she said.

RVAP and DVIP have also coordinated efforts with local police departments, where officers will put purple ribbons on cars and wear lapels marking the month in October, according to organizers.

Washington County DVIP Volunteer Coordinator Samantha Tuttle said she hoped the push for awareness would help spark involvement with the cause in communities like Washington.

“We’re very lucky to have the university in Johnson County, but we need volunteers in our rural counties,” she said.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com