RIO GRANDE COUNTY — Rio Grande County Victim Advocate Courtney Arthur met with Rio Grande County Commissioners during their meeting on Sept. 30 to ask that they once again pass a proclamation declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness month.

The board has passed a proclamation for the past two years honoring this month as Domestic Violence Awareness month and plan to make it an annual event moving forward.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), 36.8% of Colorado women and 30.5% of Colorado men experience some form of domestic violence.

In 2019, 88% of reporting domestic violence support agencies reported serving 1,221 adults for domestic violent situations and that number has only increased since the COVID-19 pandemic which forced people to remain home and in abusive relationships during 2020.

The NCADV also reports that 32 Coloradans have been killed by intimate partners and two-thirds of that number were killed as the result of firearms.

“There comes a point in a domestic violence situation that the only outcome is someone getting killed. It is a pattern that repeats until it reaches that point and by recognizing domestic violence for what it is we can help prevent situations that go too far,” said Arthur during an interview after the proclamation was passed.

The proclamation states that, “Rio Grande County joins with others across Colorado and the nation in supporting victims of domestic violence, as well as local programs, state coalitions, national organizations and other agencies nationwide who are committed to increasing public awareness of domestic violence and sending a clear message to abusers that domestic violence is not tolerated in Rio Grande County.”

There are several resources in the Valley that aid in domestic violence situations, including Tu Casa out of Alamosa who works directly with Arthur on domestic violence situations. Arthur has also recently received grant funding to help with additional resources for victims of domestic violence and other emergency situations throughout Rio Grande County.

For more information or additional resources, visit www.thehotline.org or call 800-799-SAFE (7233).