Domestic Violence Awareness Month recognized in Highland County
Highland County commissioners proclaimed October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, with Alternatives to Violence Center staff accepting the proclamation. Pictured (l-r) are Jeanine Mullenix, Lynn White, Sarah Collins and Dara Gullette of the Alternatives to Violence Center and commissioners David Daniels, Brad Roades and Terry Britton. (HCP Photo/Caitlin Forsha)
On the first day of the annual monthlong observance, Highland County commissioners Brad Roades, Terry Britton and David Daniels issued a proclamation recognizing October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month during their Wednesday, Oct. 1 meeting.
Accepting the proclamation were Alternatives to Violence Center director Dara Gullette and staff members Sarah Collins, Jeanine Mullenix and Lynn White.
Services provided by the Alternatives to Violence Center include emergency shelter for survivors and their children; personal, medical and legal advocacy; parenting programs; support groups; therapy; safety planning; housing and relocation; information, education and referrals; the Community Advocacy Project; and transportation and cell phones.
Gullette shared statistics from the past year that underscored how prevalent domestic violence is in the community. Through September, she said the center “has served 839 victims of domestic violence,” of which 656 were new cases.
“I like to reiterate to people that we assist all victims,” Gullette said. “We also served 248 of these who were male clients, and that's something that I'm passionate about too, is reiterating that we help everybody, men included.”
Gullette said the center has assisted with 145 civil protection order filings, which “is a long process that takes up the majority of the day” for staff members. They’ve also helped with “relocating” 42 individuals, “whether this is putting them in the shelter temporarily, helping them find housing or getting them to a safe place with their friends or family out of town,” she added.
According to Gullette, the clients served this year included responding to 801 in-person crisis intervention calls, with 292 calls being after-hours requests through their crisis line.
“Advocates are available 24/7,” Gullette said.
If you are in need of help, the AVC has locations in both Highland and Clinton counties. The Highland County office is located at 135 North High Street, suite 1, Hillsboro, and can be reached at (937) 393-8118. To reach the aforementioned 24-hour crisis line, call (888) 816-1146.
Instead of their usual trivia night fundraiser in October, Gullette said the center is working this month to raise awareness through partnerships with local businesses.
One such business — the center’s neighbor, Sassafras Kitchen and Coffee Bar — is sponsoring a special drink this month, the “Safe Haven Spritz,” and collecting donations to benefit the center. In keeping with the theme, the drink is purple, which is the color for domestic violence awareness.
Following their visit with center staff, Roades read the county’s proclamation to “hereby proclaim the month of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and urge all citizens to work together to eliminate domestic violence from our community.”
After reading the proclamation, commissioners also voted 3-0 to authorize an annual request from Gullette seeking permission for the Alternatives to Violence Center to apply for the revenue from the marriage license fund, which the center uses as matching funds for grants.
Anyone interested in supporting the AVC program and shelter, including through monetary donations or donations of needed supplies, can find more information at: https://www.avconline.info/support-us. Volunteers are also welcomed. For updates on their Domestic Violence Awareness Month, follow the center’s Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AVC1981.
Check back to highlandcountypress.com for more from Wednesday’s meeting.
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