West Virginia counties will soon receive extra support for training domestic violence specialists, primarily in rural areas.
Through a $186,000 grant from the state, the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence is providing technical assistance and skill development to people working in family services and shelters.
Joyce Yedlosky, co-executive director of the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said workers will receive training on what is known as the SAFER-R Model of crisis intervention.
“This is a way of interviewing victims and collecting information and providing recommendations for assessing how children are impacted by a domestic violence offender’s behaviors,” Yedlosky explained.
Earlier this year, Gov. Patrick Morrissey signed the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act into law, which increases penalties for some of the most dangerous forms of abuse, including strangulation. Experts said strangulation is often a warning sign of escalating violence.
The law clarifies the legal definition of domestic violence and makes changes to how cases involving domestic violence are handled in the criminal justice system.
Tina Desmond, director of the West Virginia Division of Administrative Services, said investing in communities by providing funds for training, outreach and prevention helps save the state money in the long run.
“Things like incarceration, courts, medical and financial needs for victims, other costs that may be associated with incidences of domestic violence we hope will decline,” Desmond outlined.
Yedlosky pointed out research shows domestic violence advocacy is linked to better safety and well-being outcomes for survivors. Yedlosky added in one day alone, the coalition’s hotline can receive more than 100 calls.
“There’s also a higher likelihood that victim will be able to complete a protective order process and that it actually saves lives,” Yedlosky emphasized.
The state recently awarded more than $500,000 in grant funding to four other advocacy groups, including Women’s Aid in Crisis Inc., the Family Refuge Center, the Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center and the Branches Domestic Violence Shelter.
