October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Free and confidential services are available 24/7 through the Western Illinois Regional Council for anyone impacted by domestic violence, shares Public Relations Manager Jamie Roth:
“Chances are high, unfortunately, that every person out there knows someone who has been impacted by domestic violence in some way shape or form. Whether it is physical abuse, it can be financial abuse, emotional abuse, elder abuse, and WIRC has a department called Victim Services. It is a non-profit and they provide free counseling, free medical advocacy, which means they would go to a hospital to help a survivor of abuse, or legal advocacy, where they would be emotional support for the survivor and assist them in getting things like order of protection. All those services are 100% free and confidential and they cover a wide range of counties depending on the program.”
WIRC serves individuals in Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren Counties. The free and confidential 24/7 hotline and be reached at 309-837-5555.