Fight against domestic violence widens in Valley, statewide

WINDSOR — An upcoming domestic violence training session hopes to continue to help break the cycle of domestic violence in the Valley, Northeastern North Carolina and statewide.

The Three Counties United for Change by Confronting Family Violence will be held on Monday, Nov. 2 at the Cashie Convention Center in Windsor from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The free class, sponsored by the Roanoke Chowan Domestic Violence Task Force, has a simple agenda.

Jamie Heckstall, coordinator for the Coordinated Community Response Team, said originally the session was for various agencies in Bertie, Hertford, Northampton counties to come together in a collaborative effort to deal with domestic violence issues, agencies such as police chiefs in the different municipalities, Sheriff’s offices and Departments of Social Services.

So far there are 160 participants signed up to attend — safety officials and social services representatives from right here in the Valley to as far away as Alamance and Rockingham counties and the Outer Banks.

“People are willing to help and understand domestic violence is real and affects everyone and not just the victim,” she said.

The Roanoke Chowan Domestic Violence Task Force was formed in 1996, there has been an ongoing effort to reduce domestic violence cases in Bertie, Hertford and Northampton counties.

“We want to continue those efforts by holding the offenders accountable for their actions and break the cycle,” she said.

Due to the lack of funding, the Coordinated Community Response Team has been only a goal for the task force.

Heckstall said the purpose of the team is to be a liaison for different agencies in the area to partner together to address domestic violence issues. The goals of a community collaboration is to provide for the safety of the victim and children, while holding the offender accountable for his/her behavior. And to change the climate in the community to one of zero tolerance of domestic violence, she said.

“So the services will not be fragmented and will be under one umbrella,” Heckstall said.

She hopes to have more sessions like this on a quarterly basis but said it will depend on funding.

“If we can obtain more funding and if the participants are out there, I would love to have quarterly training but for right now, it will be once or twice a year,” she said.

Registration is closed for the event but Heckstall said volunteers are still needed. For more information, call Heckstall at 252-794-5215 or 252-325-3321.