RALEIGH, N.C. – According to Interact Wake County, one in four women are in an abusive relationship. Nationally, it takes about seven tries for a person in a violent relationship to leave the situation. Also, about 50 percent of children who live in a domestic violence household are being abused.

 

 

Now, Interact Wake County is coming together in one building with a number of other non-profit organizations to support families facing domestic violence.

 

 “We’re bringing several different agencies together to provide services at the same time,” said Adam Hartzell, executive director of Interact Wake County.

 

 South Light, a substance abuse group, The Raleigh Police department and Interact Wake County are just three of the eight groups that are coming together under one roof this summer to serve domestic violence, rape and substance abuse victims. 

 

 “Having all those organizations under one roof will greatly assist us in providing service to victims and getting them the support they need to stop the cycle of violence,” said Sgt. Brian Limper with Raleigh Police Department.

 

Tad Clodfelter, president and CEO of South Light, said that 25 to 50 percent of all domestic violence victims also suffer from substance abuse, so the groups will work hand in hand.

 

“Integrated treatment produces the greatest outcomes. So when you treat two disorders at the same time, better yet under the same roof, you get better results,” Clodfelter said.

 

Hartzell said that, on average, it takes a domestic violence victim seven tries to get out of a bad situation, if they are lucky enough to get out at all.

 

Eighty people died as a result of domestic violence in North Carolina last year, with eight being in Wake County.  That number is almost double from the year before. Hartzell said he hopes this program will decrease those numbers.

 

 “We need to integrate these services for folks to build a support so they have a chance and can be successful at being independent and free of violence,” Hartzell said.

 

Hartzell said the $5 million project will provide victims with all the care they need to begin healing mentally, physically and emotionally

 

Other groups that will be in the building on Oberlin Road in Raleigh include the YMCA, YWCA, Wake Health Providers, Legal Aid and ASAP, which is a mental health provider.

 

For more information click on the Interact Wake County link.