Attendees at the Family Support Council light candles to illuminate awareness of domestic violence.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
A domestic dispute was the original call in the Sept. 19 wrong-way fatal collision on Kimmerling Road.
During the 2025-26 fiscal year, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office responded to 384 domestic disputes and made 199 arrests for domestic battery.
On Thursday, the Family Support Council conducted a candlelight vigil to raise awareness of domestic violence.
The day opened with a proclamation by Douglas County commissioners recognizing National Domestic Awareness Month.
Council Family Services and Violence Program Director Jenn Forzani said that while the stigma surrounding domestic violence is starting to fade, it remains an issue.
“We are well aware of the fact that this is a ripple effect that affects our entire community day in and day out,” she said. “It is prevalent in the children who can’t pay attention in the classroom due to unsafe circumstances at home. It is prevalent in the worker who is struggling to make ends meet and to find their new path in life. It is prevalent in the individuals we watch (who) can’t control their anger in a road incident. It’s prevalent consistently but that stigma is fading. That ripple effect is still there and we’re aware of it now.”
The Family Support Council operates a confidential shelter Abbey’s Crossing and 24-hour crisis phone and texting lines.
“If you know somebody who can benefit from our services, then send them our way,” she said. “Do something kind for the people who do this work.”
During the first nine months of 2026, the Family Support Council fielded 866 calls, texts and emails to its crisis line, according to figures released on Thursday.
The council reported 381 bed nights at its shelter.
The Council reported 365 new and existing client interactions between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30. Of those, 192 are new clients.
