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Montgomery County proclaims October Domestic Violence Awareness Month; Family Justice Center expands outreach
Summary
The county proclaimed October 2024 Domestic Violence Awareness Month, highlighted the Family Justice Center's growing caseload and launched a 'Still Abuse' campaign to raise awareness about nonphysical forms of abuse.
Montgomery County Council proclaimed October 2024 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month on Oct. 8 and heard presentations from county and law-enforcement partners about services and outreach.
Councilmember Sydney Katz presented the proclamation and invited representatives from the Family Justice Center, the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, the Commission for Women, the Sheriff's Office and the state's attorney’s office.
Dr. Earl Stoddard, speaking on behalf of the county executive, thanked partner agencies and emphasized year-round work to prevent domestic violence. Tom Mannion, director of the Family Justice Center and chair of the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, said the center is responding to an increasing need: when he began 11 years ago the center served about 1,200 people per year and this year is on track to serve about 2,000.
Mannion described the center’s "Still Abuse" campaign to raise awareness of nonphysical forms of abuse — isolation, manipulation, financial coercion and stalking via technology — and said the campaign will include social-media content, posters and screening of informational videos at selected county theaters.
The proclamation cites county services (Family Justice Center, trauma services and Crisis Center) and urges public awareness and support for victims. The council presented the proclamation on behalf of County Executive Mark Elrich and council leadership.
