Published on October 12, 2024 at 6:18 a.m.

Domestic violence can happen to anyone.

It might be the soccer mom who wears long-sleeve shirts even when it’s 80 degrees outside, or the guy who keeps saying he can’t go out when his friends ask him to to go out.

It could be a relative or a neighbor.

That’s why Carbon County has designated October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Last year, more than 200 Carbon people were served by the Domestic Violence Service Center after putting out a call for help.

Jen Dotzel, outreach supervisor at the Domestic Violence Service Center, which serves Carbon and Luzerne counties, said there are programs to help victims of domestic violence.

In 2023, the center housed six county residents in emergency shelter, while also working to establish the rapid rehousing program.

Dotzel said this program allows individuals to stay in the area while their rent is paid by the center for up to a year.

“We served more people in this program than in the emergency shelter,” she said, noting that about a dozen people benefited from rapid rehousing.

Tammy Rodgers, volunteer education coordinator for the Domestic Violence Service Center, thanked the board of commissioners Thursday for shining a light on this very real problem.

“We are trying to make sure that everyone knows that domestic violence is still very present in our society,” she said. “And we want to make sure that everyone knows that they can contact us because we can help them.” »

The Domestic Violence Service Center provides services including legal defense for victims of domestic violence, legal accompaniment at PFA hearings, community support groups, individual counseling and much more. All services are free and confidential.

The center is accessible at any time to anyone needing help following domestic violence.

Anyone experiencing domestic violence and physical, mental and emotional abuse can call the center’s 24-hour hotline at 800-424-5600.

For more information about the Domestic Violence Service Center, visit www.domesticviolenceservice.org.

Carbon County commissioners adopted a proclamation Thursday designating October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the county. They introduced him to Tammy Rodgers of the Domestic Violence Service Center, second from left. She is accompanied by curators Rock Ahner, Mike Sofranko and Wayne Nothstein. AMY MILLER/TIMES NEWS