This continues a series of stories begun in 2012 on businesses and non-profit groups in the Tyrrell County Chamber of Commerce.

The Tyrrell County Inner Banks Hotline was formed July 1,2011. The former domestic violence agency, Options, that served Tyrrell County with a satellite office, lost its funding from the state. 
The Outer Banks Hotline was asked to mentor and startup a program to serve victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Tyrrell County. 
Janie Spencer, was hired in Nov. 2009 as the Community Education Specialist, and then later promoted to the Director Position. Janie was the former director of the Support Our Schools program for eight years. When the program was cut from the Governor’s Budget, she applied for the position at the Inner Banks Hotline.

All of Spencer’s positions have been about serving people, so helping to build up the Hotline was a natural fit.

“They come in broken. So you have an opportunity to administer to them and help them,” said Spencer. 

Spencer noted that some people still have troubles after going to the Hotline. But others take the counseling they get and move on with a new life. 

Some of the group’s community events have included a Spring Fling, Pastor’s Tea, Christmas Social, and an annual candlelight vigil held now for three years.

Some of the positions at the Hotline are Community Advocate, and the Combined Community Response Team.


Nearly every county has some program in place to address domestic violence needs.  For example, Washington County has the Center for Family Violence Prevention and Hyde County has the Hyde County Hotline.

The North Carolina Council for Women provides some funding for these organizations.
A description on the group’s website reads:
“The primary responsibility of the Council is to advise the governor, the North Carolina General Assembly and other principal state departments on the special needs of women in North Carolina. The Council administers grants to non-profit organizations serving victims of sexual assault/domestic violence, collects, and distributes information and acts as a resource for county and regional councils for women, works in cooperation with groups working on behalf of women, creates pilot programs to address special needs.”

Another group helping with similar needs is the North Carolina Coalition against Sexual Assault. The group is an inclusive, statewide alliance working to end sexual violence through education, advocacy, and legislation.