Nearly 1,500 Iowans – men, women and children, were served by the Domestic Violence Intervention Program in 2013. Emergency shelter was provided to 295 women and children and 619 victims were assisted in navigating community systems from criminal justice to health care. DVIP serves Washington and 12 other counties in eastern Iowa.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Debbie Stanton, director of the Washington Public Library, explains the library is hosting their second Healthy Relationships Summit Tuesday. The summit will include a panel discussion, events for different age groups from random acts of kindness for those in fifth grade or younger, a family story time, and an evening documentary film and discussion for adults.

They are also encouraging people to wear purple during the month of October.