Pruntytown Correctional Center Warden James Ielapi presents a certificate to Debbie Young for her second year as chair of Domestic Violence Awareness.

The month of October is designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Pruntytown Correctional Center (PCC) has joined the campaign in its fifth year of partnering with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

PCC once again focused on the plight of domestic violence through education awareness allowing community leaders, concerned citizens, staff, and the inmates to pledge and help stop domestic violence.

Even though during October we may hear more about domestic violence, statistics, and personal testimonies, domestic violence is ongoing. There are still countless people to educate, self esteem to rebuild, encourage and empower individuals, with healing to take place.

Throughout the United States, there is help available to victims. However, in many cases it requires the victims stepping forward, seeking the direction or help to break away from control and abuse.

Victims should know that there is help and hope, it may be difficult to take the first step, but they are never alone. In North Central West Virginia, victims can call the Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center (RDVIC) hotline at 304-292-5100. This hotline has trained personel ready to answer the phone 24-hours a day.

In addition, each county has designated staff and safe havens for victims in a crisis or emergency situation. Taylor County also has three staff members that are ready to assist victims, simply by calling the hotline number.

On Wednesday, November 18, 2009 the Domestic Violence Awareness Committee held a meeting to wrap up this year’s month long event.

Some of the month long activities included: the purple ribbon ceremony, poster display and brochures, the clothesline and silent witness display. In addition, PCC also had several fundraisers throughout the month to raise money to help stop domestic violence.

PCC also held a visitation public awareness for families, a public forum, and a healing service for the inmate population.

PCC extended their efforts in placing donation boxes at both the library and outside the public forum, for the collection of door locks, and cell phones to be used by victims in a crisis situation to provide a safety blanket.

PCC Domestic Violence and Awareness Chair and Coordinator Debbie Young, began by thanking the entire committee for their heightened awareness surrounding domestic violence, their support, and participation in this month long event.

Young praised the committee on their involvement, and getting the information dispersed. Warden James Ielapi thanked the committee for the hardwork in making the events a success. Ielapi, presented Young with a certificate of award for her second year as the chair of domestic violence awareness an her endevers.

Ielapi praised Young’s leadership abilities, diligence, the approach as a team player, and for contributing efforts with PCC that earned the West Virginia Division of Correctional Commissioner’s Award For Outstanding Service To Victims in 2008.

In addition, the PCC committee presented RDVIC Representative of Taylor County, Carol Moats with door locks and an abundant supply of cell phones that were donated during the month of October.

Ielapi also called on Moats, and presented RDVIC with a check of monies raised, as a result of fundraisers that took place throughout the month long campaign.

The committee is already preparing for next years Domestic Violence and Awareness campaign, and is assessing ways to improve or enhance the program and help put a stop to domestic violence.