October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Carbon County.

During the county commissioners' meeting on Thursday, the board adopted a proclamation in honor of raising awareness about domestic violence. Domestic violence is a serious problem all over the world and the Domestic Violence Service Center has worked diligently to offer support and help to women who have been victims of abuse.The proclamation recognizes the Domestic Violence Service Center, which began as the Women Center task force in 1977.According to the proclamation, Women Center was founded by a group of volunteers to assess the needs of area women, provide support in the form of peer counseling, and conduct community education programs about issues of importance to women."In June 1978, the task force was incorporated as the Domestic Violence Service Center, which serves Carbon County today. Since then, the purpose of the Domestic Violence Service Center has been to work toward the eleimination of domestic violence.Devon Fritz, Carbon County counselor of the Domestic Violence Service Center, accepted the proclamation.She thanked the commissioners for their continued support of the agency.She explained that the center's services include providing legal advocacy to victims of domestic violence, including court accompanyment to PFA hearings, community support groups, one-on-one counseling and more. All services are free and confidential."We want our clients to know that they are not alone," Fritz said. "There is always someone at our 24-hour hotline and our counselors provide legal advocacy and support. Domestic violence does not discriminate against race, economic status. It can happen to anyone, so anyone in a situation where they are not safe, there is no need to feel embarrassed because there is someone there to help."She added that anyone who is a victim of domestic violence and physical, mental and emotional abuse can call the center's hotline at 1-800-424-5600.