HUNTINGTON — It Takes a Village, in partnership with the Hilltown Community Health Centers and the Southern Hilltowns Domestic Violence Task Force, is launching a campaign to bring awareness and offer help to victims of domestic violence in rural communities, called Hilltown Safety at Home.

The information campaign has two parts: An informational packet for bystanders containing resources on how to support someone in an abusive relationship who has reached out to them, and information for them to share with the people in their lives who are involved in abusive relationships.

It Takes a Village Program Director Lisa Dana Goding said the Hilltown Safety at Home campaign is all about healthy versus adverse relationships, and safety planning for those in harm’s way.

Some of the resources for bystanders explain what is domestic violence, how to recognize the warning signs, why victims stay in abusive relationships and some of the obstacles in their way.

“It is geared to people who have someone say to them ‘I’m being harmed,’” Goding said.

She said equipping people on what to say and how to help is important.

“What we hear a lot from people, which is especially harmful, is they are not sure people will believe them,” Goding said.

Part of the campaign is to put messages out there through a public service campaign to assure victims that they will be believed.

Helping with the campaign are five bachelor of science in nursing students from UMass Amherst who are assigned to It Takes a Village on a clinical rotation.

The students, who are each giving 126 hours, are helping to put together packets and create signs with template phrases for the bystander public awareness campaign. Photos of people in the Hilltowns holding the signs with phrases such as, “I believe you,” “You are not alone,” and “Hello, I can help,” will be part of the campaign.

 “You don’t have to be an expert, you can be a bridge,” Goding said.

On April 24, Chester-Blandford Police Chief Jen Dubiel came to It Takes a Village to participate in the campaign.

“Besides medical calls in the Hilltowns, domestic violence is the biggest issue,” Dubiel said, holding a sign that said, “I believe you.”

Also participating was Casey Pease, constituent services director for state Sen. Paul Mark.

“I think it’s important that our office and the senator is represented, to let folks that are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence know that we stand with them,” he said.

Goding said for the past couple of years, some people couldn’t leave adverse situations because of COVID-19.

“Here, people are so isolated with abuse, especially in the rural areas,” she said.

Help is available through the Hilltown Safety at Home program, run by the Hilltown Community Health Center, which can assist in safety planning, emergency assistance, informal counseling, referrals to services, a child witness advocate, assistance in obtaining a restraining order and court accompaniment.

To access these services through Hilltown Safety at Home, call 413-667-2203, ext. 341, or call or text Mary Krol at 413-693-9977, or email mkrol@hchcweb.org.  In an emergency, dial 911 to contact local police.

For 24-hour hotlines for survivors, contact Safelink at 877-785-7233, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, or text START to 88788.