Free Seminar on Assisting Domestic Violence Victims Open to Local Employers

PITTSBURGH, PA — Employers who want to make a difference in the lives of employees who are victims of domestic violence can gain some insight into the problem at a free seminar on October 28. Bell Atlantic Mobile is hosting the program at its Pittsburgh Regional Headquarters in Thorn Hill Industrial Park. To heighten awareness of the domestic violence issue and to help educate business owners, managers, and human resource directors in dealing with a problem that gravely affects employees, the company will hold two half-day seminars.

Janet Scott, education director from the Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, will conduct the training on identifying and intervening for employees affected by intimate partner violence. She will cover such topics as tips for managers, how to supervise an employee who is struggling with domestic violence, when you see signs of abuse and when an employee discloses abuse.

Two sessions of the seminar are scheduled on Wednesday, October 28. The first will run from 8 a.m. to 12 noon; it will be repeated from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Bell Atlantic Mobile is underwriting the cost of the seminar, so there is no registration fee.

Attendance is limited to 25 participants in each session and will be accepted on a first-come basis. To register for either the morning or afternoon session, please call 412-913-2128.

Earlier this month, Bell Atlantic Mobile introduced a toll-and airtime-free link to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, allowing users to simply dial *HOPE from their cellular phones to reach the hotline. Since 1995, Bell Atlantic Mobile has focused its philanthropic efforts, under the "Wireless at Work..." community service program, on assisting victims of domestic violence by utilizing the company's resources and technology in a variety of ways. These include its HopeLineÒ program, which provides free voice mail boxes to victims residing in shelters, and donations of pre-programmed wireless 9-1-1 phones to police departments and district attorneys' offices to distribute to women at risk. This year the company earmarked $100,000 to help victims by providing wireless technology solutions.

Editor's Note: Bell Atlantic Mobile owns and operates the largest wireless network in the East, covering 112,000 square miles, and the largest chain of retail outlets devoted exclusively to wireless voice, data and paging. The company's Pittsburgh Regional Headquarters are in Thorn Hill Industrial Park in Marshall Township. www.bellatlantic.com/worldwide.

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