Hope House's Community Education E-bulletins

See below for our most recent e-bulletins. Scroll to the bottom of this page to access e-bulletins from the fall of 2018-2019.

Subscribe to the Hope House Newsletter

* indicates required
We never share emails with other businesses or organizations. By signing up, you agree to receive Hope House's monthly e-bulletin. You can unsubscribe at any time. Please let us know if you have questions. 

Recent Community Education E-bulletins

Welcome to Hope House's May 2020 Community Education E-bulletin

Donate to Hope House Today for #GivingTuesdayNow & Your Donation Will Be Matched
Picture
Today is #GivingTuesdayNow. It's a global day of giving and unity, as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.

Hope House Board Member, Cheryl, has 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 $𝟏,𝟎𝟎𝟎! This means your kind gift could be doubled today.

Survivors of domestic, sexual, and child abuse need your support now more than ever-- as many are trapped in a home with their abuser. Our calls for assistance are on a steady rise. Wondering how your donation can help?

★ A gift of $20 could cover a week of gloves, something we need constantly during COVID-19.
★ $50 provides a month of needed translation services for many of our clients.
★ $150 gives a week of groceries to our shelter residents.

Any donation is welcome, and will be doubled (up to $1,000) thanks to Cheryl, our incredibly generous board member!

There are two ways to donate, via our Facebook post from today, or via PayPal.

Thank you so much for making hope possible for someone in need of Hope House services today!
Hope House Services during COVID-19 Pandemic

We are continuing to provide services in manners consistent with recommendations from local and national health officials and will continue to be a resource for those experiencing domestic and sexual violence. Services can be accessed by calling the 24-hour helpline at 1-800-584-6790, or you can set up an appointment with an advocate for one-on-one supportive counseling via Zoom by emailing help@hopehousescw.org.

Additionally, if you live in Sauk, Juneau, Marquette, Adams or Columbia Counties and have basic hygiene, food, or other immediate needs, please call our 24-hour helpline (1-800-584-6790), and we will do our best to help meet those needs.

During this challenging time, Hope House would appreciate donations to help us continue to support those in need, please see below for our current wish list. We also greatly appreciate monetary donations, which you can give online via Facebook or PayPal. 
How We Raised Awareness in April

April was Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month. With events cancelled and schools and businesses closed, Hope House had to get creative about awareness-raising during this important month:
Picture
  • ​Are you following us on Instagram? We enjoyed participating in the National Sexual Violence Resource Center's #30DaysofSAAM. They provided an open-ended prompt that we responded to with a photo, collage, video, or other original content. Check it out @hopehousescw.
  • Denim Day was April 29, a day to honor sexual assault survivors by wearing jeans. The day started after a young woman's rapist was let free. During his appeal case, the judges ruled that since her jeans were really tight, she must've helped him take them off and was thus giving consent. Wearing jeans on Denim Days protests this kind of victim-blaming that continues today. Thank you to everyone that participated from home and donated to us!
  • If you live in Baraboo, Reedsburg, Lodi, Montello, or Elroy, you may have seen our blue and teal tree sashes with information on our services along walking paths. Many thanks to these cities for allowing us to do this project!
  • Did you hear our PSAs about sexual assault and child abuse? They ran on MAX FM 99.7, Wisconsin 106.1, WRJC 92.1, and Magnum radio stations.
  • Thank you to Capital Newspapers for printing our #IAsk campaign opinion piece! Didn't see it? Check it out here.
  • Did you drive by Hope House and see our pinwheel display? Along with informational yard signs, these pinwheels were up for Child Abuse Prevention Month.
  • Thanks to UW-Platteville for inviting us to participate in their Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) dialogues on Zoom on April 22. As the community-based sexual assault agency for the Baraboo campus, Hope House's Youth Advocate/Educator Amanda spoke to participants about how to access our services, how we can help campus survivors, how to support friends that have experienced sexual assault, and what we were doing for SAAM.
Start a Facebook Fundraiser for Hope House

​Feeling unsure of how you can help those who don't feel #SaferAtHome due to domestic violence, sexual assault, or child abuse? One way you can help is to start a Facebook fundraiser for Hope House. Donations are handled directly through Facebook. All you need to do is set up your Fundraising page and share it with your friends and family! Every dollar makes a difference!
How to setup a Facebook Fundraiser for Hope House:
  1. Click here.
  2. Click the + Raise Money Button in the upper right-hand corner of the page
  3. Choose a cover image, a title for your fundraiser, and a story about why you are raising money for Hope House.
  4. Once your fundraiser is set up, share it with your Facebook friends and family, and ask them to donate.
If you have any questions about setting up your Facebook Fundraiser for Hope House, please contact us at HHOffice@HopeHouseSCW.org. Thank you for your support!
Hope House's May Wish List

​Most needed items include:
  • ​Cleaning Supplies: Hand Sanitizer, Disinfectant Wipes and Spray, Lysol Laundry Sanitizer/Disinfectant, Bleach-Free Toilet Bowl Cleaner
  • ​Food: Juices, Cereal, Spaghetti Sauce, Ketchup, Mayo, Individually-Packaged Healthy Snacks 
  • ​Household Supplies: Ziploc Bags, Shower Caddies
  • Personal Care Items: Deodorant, Shampoo & Conditioner (no travel size please), Body Wash (no travel size please)
  • Baby Items: Size 5 & 6 Diapers, Baby Wipes
Hope House also accepts used cell phones, smartphones, iPods, and iPads as we send them to a recycling center to later be used as 911 cell phones and receive a cash donation.

Donations can be dropped off at 720 Ash Street in Baraboo. You can also ship items directly to us from amazon. Use amazon smile and 0.5% of your purchase will be donated to Hope House.

Questions? Please call us at 608-356-9123. Thank you!

Please note that at this time we are not accepting stuffed animals/plush toys, used toys, used books, clothes (except for what may be listed above), shoes, TVs, bar soap, furniture, or travel-size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, or lotion. We encourage those looking to donate travel-size items to donate them to the Backpack Project. The Backpack Project strives to provide Baraboo School District students who are financially challenged to enter the school doors on the first day "just like everyone else" and to show these children the community supports and encourages them to learn and do their best. Becky Hovde is the contact, and she can be reached at 608-963-8230 or Hivebiz65@gmail.com.
National Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4-8
Picture
As Hope House’s education team learns new ways of doing outreach and prevention education, we empathize with educators and all of the modifications they’ve had to make.

To all the teachers we've worked with: We miss working with you and can't wait to share all that we do with your students again! Thank you for your commitment and dedication to the well-being and education of your students!

Happy National Teacher Appreciation Week!
Domestic Violence News
  • Uber is offering 50,000 free rides, free food to shelters for domestic abuse victims: “The ride-hailing giant announced plans Thursday to donate 50,000 free rides to domestic violence organizations in more than 30 cities across 16 countries”…Read more
Sexual Assault & Harassment News
  • Child Sex Abuse Reports Spike As Country Shelters In Place, Advocates Say: “Scott Berkowitz, president of the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, said RAINN has seen an uptick in minors reporting sexual violence in March, the month most shelter-in-place orders were implemented across the country. ‘Last month, for the first time ever, a majority of RAINN’s sexual abuse hotline users were minors,’ he told HuffPost. Just over half of the people who called RAINN’s hotline last month who identified their age were under 18. Of those, 67% identified their perpetrator as a family member and, within that group, 79% said they were living with that perpetrator”…Read more
  • This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Remember Incarcerated Survivors: “Many people believe sexual abuse in detention is inevitable. On the contrary, when corrections leaders embrace safe practices and hold perpetrators accountable, this violence can be stopped. When we make light of rape in prison, we are giving a green light to those who commit these horrific abuses — and, all too often, get away with it scot-free. And we simply cannot tolerate that any longer”…Read more
  • College Students Are Still Being Raped During the COVID-19 Shutdown: How Prevention and Response Mechanisms Must Adapt: “Although campuses have largely closed to protect students from COVID-19, many who cannot easily return home or are locked into an apartment lease are still living on- and off-campus. A lack of on-campus resources—coupled with new limitations on how and where people can socialize—may heighten these students’ risk for sexual victimization”…Read more
  • Five Ways to Create Safe and Harassment-Free Workplaces in a Time of Crisis: “As workers across industries become increasingly vulnerable to job loss, they may be less likely to raise concerns or file complaints. And as organizations downsize, fewer people may be available to play an active harassment prevention oversight role…Although this pandemic presents many new risks for organizations, this can also be the time to look forward and adopt strategies to reduce harassment and prevent assault during the pandemic and over the long term”…Read more
Parents' and Youth Service Providers' Section
  • Practicing What I Preach: Consent, Young People, and Respecting a No: “It’s important to understand that lessons learned at home about bodily autonomy and consent are building blocks that kids will use as they grow into adulthood. Demonstrating respect for our kids’ personal boundaries, including putting their image online — in a blog or a social media post, for example — is one way to model consent so that our kids will know what it looks like to have their autonomy respected in the future”…Read more and watch the 2-minute video
  • ALL-IN: Online bullying prevention module redesigned for distance learning: "This online classroom toolkit, has been modified and redesigned into an eight-part module series to encourage students to be involved, invested, and included in bullying prevention, even at home. These redesigned resources feature education, interaction, and additional media activities that can easily be incorporated into new distance learning formats. Access ALL-IN, a distance learning resource for K-12 students."
  • National Bullying Prevention Center's Book Club – Author Readings: "Every Wednesday during April and May 2020, PACER’s NBPC will share a new video featuring an author from the NBPC Book Club who will read their story. Be sure to share with your children or students!" Watch the videos.
  • Supporting LGBTQ Students During Social Distancing: “Experts at The Trevor Project offered their recommendations for ways educators can support LGBTQ students through coronavirus school closures”…Read more
  • The Representation Project’s 10 Tips for Protecting Kids: “In the United States, the FBI has even issued guidance to parents that children are at an increased risk of exploitation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are ten helpful resources all parents and trusted adults can read and watch to help keep children safe during the crisis and always”…Read more
  • Protecting Children may look different, but it’s still possible.: “Watch the Protecting Children During a Crisis webinar to learn more on meeting the basic needs of children, the consequences stay at home orders have on children and how adults can adapt to protect kids from abuse, how to make online experiences safer, the reality of decreased reporting, and caring for the mental health of children, adults, and families…Below please find helpful resources that were discussed in the webinar or provided by the participating organizations”…Read more and watch the archived webinar here
  • Closed Schools Are Creating More Trauma For Students: “The job of the school counselor has evolved over the years, from academic guide to something deeper: the adult in a school tasked with fostering students' social and emotional growth, a mental health first responder and a confidant for kids, especially teens, who often need a closed door and a sympathetic ear. But the closure of nearly all U.S. schools has forced counselors like Sabens to reimagine how they can do their jobs. And the stakes have never been higher”…Read more
Online Training
  • Bystander Intervention Training: “In response to the rise in Anti-Asian/American and xenophobic harassment, we at Hollaback!​ partnered with Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC to adapt our free bystander intervention training to meet this moment. Unfortunately, anti-Asian and Asian American racism and xenophobia is not a new phenomenon. It has been part of American history for a long time, and we have seen it manifested against different Asian/American and Pacific Islander communities in many ways over the years. As the coronavirus pandemic escalates, we have seen more harassment, discrimination, and even violence directed at these communities….We’re adding a number of additional free trainings.” Learn more and register here
Picture
BrightStar Care in Baraboo distance-delivered Easter baskets for the children of clients we are currently assisting. We really appreciate the kids waking up Easter morning to a basket of goodies! The amazing folks at BrightStar also included a basket filled with items from Hope House's April wish list! Thank you!!
Picture
This year Sexual Assault Awareness Month taught us that even during #SaferAtHome, we can adapt and overcome obstacles to spread awareness. We encourage you to believe survivors and share in Hope House’s mission to prevent abuse and provide support to anyone who needs it. Thank you again to everyone who participated in #30DaysofSAAM, you inspire us.⁠
Hope House of South Central Wisconsin
720 Ash St/P.O. Box 557, Baraboo, WI 53913
24-Hour, Confidential Helpline: 1-800-584-6790
Resource Center Office: 608-356-9123
www.HopeHouseSCW.org
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram
@hopehousescw

Welcome to Hope House's April 2020 Community Education E-bulletin

Hope House Message to the Community regarding COVID-19 and Continued Services

Hope House of South Central WI is continuing to provide services in manners consistent with recommendations from local and national health officials. We will continue to be a resource for those experiencing domestic and sexual violence. Services can be accessed by calling our 24 hour Hotline at 1-800-584-6790. Our team will not be attending community meetings or training in an effort to prevent the illness from entering the building.

Hope House is now able to offer one-on-one supportive counseling via Zoom! We wanted to find another way to offer you support in this time of social distancing and quarantines - we're always thinking of you and how we can continue to help! Be assured, Zoom is completely confidential, and we're here waiting to talk to you when you need us. To get an appointment set up with an advocate via zoom, just email help@hopehousescw.org or call our helpline.

Additionally, if you or someone you know live in Sauk, Juneau, Marquette, Adams or Columbia Counties and have basic hygiene, food, or other immediate needs please call our 24 hour Hotline (1-800-584-6790) and we will do our best to help meet those needs.
During this challenging time, Hope House would appreciate donations to help us continue to support those in need:
  • Toiletries
  • Cleaning Supplies
  • Hygiene supplies
  • Canned and Boxed Foods
Please do not bring bedding, clothing, or other soft-surface items to the shelter at this time. We appreciate your generosity, but are asking you to please wait on these types of donations until the virus is more contained.
We will also be updating our Amazon wish list, if you would prefer to donate in that way, or you can donate online via Facebook or Paypal.
​
Hope House will continue to update the community if there are changes to our programming or services.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month & Child Abuse Prevention Month
​We're shifting gears this April and doing what we can to still raise awareness during this time of physical distancing. We hope you'll join us in finding ways to get involved!
  • Join us in participating in the National Sexual Violence Resource Center's #30DaysofSAAM:
    • This popular online contest gives organizations and individual accounts a chance to win a prize pack every day. Here’s how it works: Each day in April, they’ll provide an open-ended prompt that participants respond to with a photo, collage, illustration, digital art, video, or other original content. NSVRC selects a daily prompt winner who will receive a Yes Means Yes tote bag, sticker pack, and keychain, and they’ll have their photo featured on our Instagram page for all to see. Watch what Hope House posts on our Instagram page @hopehousescw.
  • Wear blue on April 3 for Wear Blue for Child Abuse Prevention Day
  • Wear teal on April 7 for Sexual Assault Awareness Month Day of Action
  • Wear jeans on April 29 for Denim Day (see full description below)
  • Live in Baraboo or Lodi? Hope House put up blue and teal tree sashes with information on our services along walking paths. More cities may be added later this month
  • Tune in to MAX FM 99.7, Wisconsin 106.1, WRJC 92.1, and Magnum stations to hear our PSAs
  • Keep an eye out for pinwheels in our front yard along with yard signs for Child Abuse Prevention Month
  • Watch for our letters to the editor in area newspapers
  • Check out the Parents' and Youth Service Providers' Section at the bottom of this email for information on free online training opportunities on child sexual abuse prevention

Please stay tuned to our website for more information and updates.
Denim Day is April 29th
Denim Day is in honor of a young Italian woman who was raped by her driving instructor. He was convicted, but he appealed and the judges overturned the conviction. The judges decided that "...because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was no longer rape, but consensual sex." Denim Day was created as a message in protest of victim-blaming. We need to start by believing survivors and not blame them for the sexual assault that someone else committed against them. You can still participate in Denim Day while at home! Wear jeans and consider making a donation to Hope House via Facebook or Paypal. You could even take a photo of yourself wearing jeans and post it on Facebook or Instagram with the reason why you're wearing jeans. Please tag us @hopehousescw. Thank you for your support!
Hope House's April Wish List

Most needed items include:
  • Cleaning Supplies: Hand Sanitizer, Disinfectant Wipes and Spray, Lysol Laundry Sanitizer/Disinfectant, Bleach-Free Toilet Bowl Cleaner
  • Food: Juices, Cereal, Individually-Packaged Snacks (large boxes of granola bars, fruit snacks, cookies, chips, etc.)
  • Household Supplies: Ziploc Bags

​Hope House also accepts used cell phones, smartphones, iPods, and iPads as we send them to a recycling center to later be used as 911 cell phones and receive a cash donation.
Donations can be dropped off at 720 Ash Street in Baraboo. Questions? Please call us at 608-356-9123. Thank you!

Please note that at this time we are not accepting stuffed animals/plush toys, used toys, used books, clothes (except for what may be listed above), shoes, TVs, bar soap, furniture, or travel-size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, or lotion. We encourage those looking to donate travel-size items to donate them to the Backpack Project. The Backpack Project strives to provide Baraboo School District students who are financially challenged to enter the school doors on the first day "just like everyone else" and to show these children the community supports and encourages them to learn and do their best. Becky Hovde is the contact, and she can be reached at 608-963-8230 or Hivebiz65@gmail.com.
Domestic Violence News
Sexual Assault News
  • #MeToo Doesn’t Always Have to Mean Prison: “We need more of these programs so that we can study their long-term impact, improve them where necessary and make them more accessible to victims who want to participate. #MeToo rightly emphasizes victims’ healing and accountability for the people who harmed them. All too often, the prosecutorial route achieves neither. Restorative justice may be a way to achieve both”…Read more
  • Weinstein Silence Breakers React To Sentencing With Emotional Outpouring: ‘We Did It’: “A New York judge sentenced convicted rapist and disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein to 23 years in prison on Wednesday, nearly the maximum recommended sentence for the crimes he was convicted of last month. The sentence — which means Weinstein, 67, would likely spend the rest of his life behind bars — was met with gasps in the courtroom, according to reporters present”…Read more
Free Film Screenings
  • Paper Tigers and Resilience: “KPJR Films is reaching out to share our documentary films and trauma-informed tools with communities nationwide. KPJR Films will launch KPJR SHOWCASE with a virtual screening of PAPER TIGERS and RESILIENCE. Both films, along with additional content, will be available for viewing on your desktop, laptop or hand held device at no charge from 6am EDT on Saturday, April 4th through 8pm EDT on Tuesday, April 7th”…Learn more and register
  • Broken Places PBS Broadcast Premiere: On April 6, the documentary Broken Places will premiere on PBS. "This timely film explores why some children are severely damaged by early adversity while others are able to thrive”…Watch the trailer and check local listings here
  • Nameless: Join Men Can Stop Rape on April 16th at 10 am and April 28th at noon for virtual viewings of the documentary Nameless, which addresses child sex trafficking in Washington, DC and at-large. Then, join the conversation in a Twitter townhall, where you can discuss thoughts, questions, and responses to the film directly with the experts. RSVP at mcsr.org/saam-digital.
Parents' and Youth Service Providers' Section
  • How can parents find safe child care in emergencies?: “If you are looking for in-home care from an individual in your community, here are some suggestions to help strengthen your childcare selection when you need to quickly find someone to watch your child(ren)”…Read more…Read related blog post from Darkness to Light: Taking Protective Steps during the Coronavirus Pandemic
    • Darkness to Light's Free Online Training Opportunities:
      • Their evidence-based Stewards of Children training available for free online through champion gymnast Aly Raisman’s #FlipTheSwitch campaign.
      • Two 30-minute trainings for parents and caregivers:
        • “Talking with Kids about Safety from Sexual Abuse” (use the code Talk2020) and “Protecting Children during a Crisis.” Learn more here.
  • Know Your IX’s FAQs about COVID-19 and Title IX: “We have created an FAQ based on questions that we have heard from survivors whose cases have been impacted by COVID-19. Please read and share it widely so people know that schools are still required to follow Title IX even if no-one is on campus.”
  • Futures Without Violence’s Resources for Kids and Families: Check out this list of resources, including ways to help children and adults living with violence, resources for kids learning at home, helping children understand COVID-19, de-stressing and self-regulation for parents and kids, guides for educators, and resources for parents and caregivers in need of financial support. Some resources available in Spanish.
  • Common Sense Media’s Wide Open School: Common Sense Media just launched “a brand-new, free online resource to support families and educators who are transitioning to remote learning as a result of the coronavirus: Wide Open School. Why? There are so many online resources to support kids' educational, emotional, and physical development that Common Sense editors are noticing yet another challenge for parents and educators: How can you find high-quality resources quickly, easily, and in one place? Curated and coordinated by the experts at Common Sense, Wide Open School is the result of a collaboration among leading publishers, nonprofits, and education and technology companies. Wide Open School features a free collection of the best learning experiences and activities for kids, organized by grade band and subject. You will also find daily schedules with creative breaks and recommendations to keep kids engaged and exploring, one day (or one hour) at a time.”
  • A Trauma-Informed Approach to Teaching Through Coronavirus: “Experts from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network share their recommendations for educators supporting students during the COVID-19 crisis”…Read the article
  • Student Voices – Their Perspectives on How Schools Are and Should Be: “TLPI recently completed this report from eight “Listening and Learning Sessions” with 73 secondary students in urban public schools. We asked students What do you need in order to do well in school? What could your school do differently to help you do well? and How should your schools be assessed?”…Read more
  • Trauma-Informed Practice Is a Powerful Tool. But It's Also Incomplete: “Research shows that individually based responses, such as breathing deeply, doing yoga, or listening to music, can support children who've suffered trauma. The danger is that we focus only on the individual behaviors of children, and not on the racial bias and systemic inequality that exacerbates or even causes trauma. Painting the communities most harmed by these inequalities as no more than the traumas that they face erases the beauty and the resilience that exists there as well”…Read more
Hope House of South Central Wisconsin
720 Ash St/P.O. Box 557, Baraboo, WI 53913
24-Hour, Confidential Helpline: 1-800-584-6790
Resource Center Office: 608-356-9123
www.HopeHouseSCW.org
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram
@hopehousescw

Welcome to Hope House's March 2020 Community Education E-bulletin

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month & Child Abuse Prevention Month
Picture


​
April is a busy awareness month for Hope House, and we hope you'll join us in getting involved! We'll be staffing booths at community events, giving awareness presentations, putting up pinwheels in our front yard, recording PSAs, writing letters to the editor, putting up displays and posters, adding our information to high school prom tickets, and wearing blue for Wear Blue for Child Abuse Prevention Day on April 3. Please stay tuned to our website for more information and updates. Interested in volunteering to help with these activities? Please contact Deb at 608-356-9123 or email her here.
Save the Date: Denim Day is April 29th ​
​Denim Day is in honor of a young Italian woman who was raped by her driving instructor. He was convicted, but he appealed and the judges overturned the conviction. The judges decided that "...because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was no longer rape, but consensual sex." Denim Day was created as a message in protest of victim-blaming. We need to start by believing survivors and not blame them for the sexual assault that someone else committed against them. You can participate in Denim Day by asking your employer to allow employees to wear jeans on April 29 in exchange for making a small donation to Hope House. You can find a flyer for it here. If your business, school, or church is interested in participating in Denim Day, please call Hope House at 608-356-9123 to let us know. We'd greatly appreciate it if you took photos of the participants wearing jeans and tag us on Facebook or Instagram @hopehousescw or email it to us at HHOffice@HopeHouseSCW.org. We'll share the image online. Thank you for your support!
UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County's "What Were You Wearing?" Sexual Assault Survivor Art Installation, April 20-24

​Please visit the UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County campus between April 22-26 to view the powerful "What Were You Wearing?" sexual assault survivor art installation. This installation provides a tangible response to one of our culture’s most pervasive rape myths. Outfits featured have been recreated from the stories of student survivors/victims. This installation contains descriptions of sexual violence, which may cause an emotional response. Resources are available inside should you need them.
You're Invited to WCASA's Survivors & Allies Day of Healing on April 4
Join sexual assault survivors and allies on Saturday, April 4 from 9:30 am – 1:30 pm at First United Methodist Church in Madison for a series of free educational and self-care workshops designed to aid the healing journey. This event is organized by the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault. More information and registration can be found at https://bit.ly/2SiY201.
February was Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
Thank You Royal Neighbors!
The theme for this year's Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month was #1thing. Each of us can do small things to help make a difference in raising awareness, providing support, and preventing abuse. Here Hope House staff are holding their #1thing signs: One thing I'm doing to bring awareness of dating abuse is education and talking about it, and #1thing I want everyone to know is that love is respect, kind, and equal. Thank you to those that joined us in wearing orange for #Orange4Love Day on February 11th and spreading the message that everyone deserves safe and healthy relationships. Thanks to the libraries in Portage, Montello, Rio, and Randolph for having awareness displays, for area newspapers that printed Hope House's letter to the editor, and to MAX FM 99.7, Wisconsin 106.1, and Magnum stations for running our PSAs.   
Many thanks to the Royal Neighbors of America in Sauk City for their continued support of Hope House. They recently dropped off over $100 worth of items from our wish list. We so appreciate you!
New Support Group

​Hope House's newest Women’s Support Group will be starting here at our Resource Center in Baraboo (720 Ash Street). Group will be held every 3rd Wednesday of the month from 6 pm-7:15 pm. Snacks will be provided. If you're a woman that has experienced or is experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault, we would love for you to come and check it out! You do not need to have already worked with Hope House or one of our advocates before in order to attend. The next group is on March 18. If you have any questions, please call us at 608-356-9123.
Hope House's March Wish List

​Most needed items include:
  • Food: Juices, Individually-Packaged Snacks (large boxes of granola bars, fruit snacks, cookies, chips, etc.)
  • Women's Clothing: New Slippers, Robes, and PJs (all sizes)
  • Children/Babies: Sippy Cups
  • Cleaning Supplies: Disinfectant Wipes and Spray, Lysol Laundry Sanitizer/Disinfectant, Bleach-Free Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Disposable Latex Gloves
  • Household Supplies: Gallon Ziploc Bags
Hope House also accepts used cell phones, smartphones, iPods, and iPads as we send them to a recycling center to later be used as 911 cell phones and receive a cash donation.
Donations can be dropped off at 720 Ash Street in Baraboo. Questions? Please call us at 608-356-9123. Thank you!

Please note that at this time we are not accepting stuffed animals/plush toys, used toys, used books, clothes (except for what's listed above), shoes, TVs, bar soap, furniture, or travel-size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, or lotion. We encourage those looking to donate travel-size items to donate them to the Backpack Project. The Backpack Project strives to provide Baraboo School District students who are financially challenged to enter the school doors on the first day "just like everyone else" and to show these children the community supports and encourages them to learn and do their best. Becky Hovde is the contact, and she can be reached at 608-963-8230 or Hivebiz65@gmail.com.
Coaching Boys Into Men Program
Interested in bringing the free Coaching Boys Into Men program in the article below to your middle or high school? Please call us at 608-356-9123 or email hhoffice@hopehousescw.org to learn about Hope House's free training program for coaches. Interested in a similar program for female athletes? We've got you covered with the program Athletes as Leaders, which was based off Coaching Boys Into Men.
  • How To Stop Boys From Becoming ‘Me Too’ Perpetrators: “In schools using the program, athletic coaches spent 15 minutes a week talking to middle school boys about respectful behavior toward girls, covering topics such as degrading language, catcalling, physical aggression, digital abuse and understanding consent...When surveyed a year later, those who were dating had 76% lower odds of abusing a romantic partner than those who did not participate in the program. They were also better at recognizing abusive behaviors, and their attitudes on gender equity had improved...Coaching Boys Into Men has already been shown to be effective in reducing dating abuse in high school students. This is the first clinical trial to evaluate its success among middle school boys”…Read more
Sexual Assault News
  • She Was Assaulted by a Drunk Man. Now the CEO of Absolut Vodka Is Telling Her Story: “The company worked with RAINN to make sure the messaging makes it clear that it’s perpetrators, not victims, who need to change. ‘You have a responsibility to obtain consent in your relationship. And to make sure that consent is being freely given and by someone who’s capable of giving consent,’ Berkowitz says. And it’s not a matter for pundits to debate--it’s the law in most states that a person who has been incapacitated by alcohol cannot consent”…Read more
  • She Didn’t Want a Pelvic Exam. She Received One Anyway.: “But across many U.S. states and medical institutions, physicians are not required to obtain explicit consent for the procedure. Sometimes the exams are conducted — by doctors or doctors-in-training — while women are under anesthesia for gynecological and other operations. Often the exams are deemed medically necessary, but in some cases they are done solely for the educational benefit of medical trainees. At some hospitals, physicians discuss the procedure with patients beforehand or detail its specifics in consent forms, but at others the women are left unaware”…Read more
  • Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty In Rape Trial: “However, the panel - consisting of five women and seven men - notably found him not guilty on the two most serious charges of predatory sexual assault, which would have carried a maximum penalty of life behind bars…‘While it is disappointing that today’s outcome does not deliver the true, full justice that so many women deserve, Harvey Weinstein will now forever be known as a convicted serial predator,’ they said. ‘This conviction would not be possible without the testimony of the courageous women and the many women who have spoken out’”…Read more
Miscellaneous News
How unprocessed trauma is stored in the body: “Therapy can help in unlocking or processing the traumatic memories, releasing them from being trapped in your system. When the traumatic memory is reintegrated in the mind, the brain can begin to heal. Meditation and physical activity, such as yoga, also deliver real results in this release and can help the healing process”…Read more
Parents' and Youth Service Providers' Section
  • What’s Typical About Youth Sexuality, What’s Not, How To Know The Difference: “When you know what to expect in terms of sexual behavior in children it is much easier to determine if a child needs help. It is very important that you stop the play, casually chat with the kids about their behavior to determine whether further help is needed and remind them of the body-boundary rules”…Read more
  • I'm 37 and I pose as children online to identify sexual predators. Here's what parents should know: “Life in the digital world moves fast, and it's crucial to have continuing conversations with your child about their devices, how they use them, who they're talking to and the things they see online. Make check-ins frequent and informal so they become a part of your family's day-to-day life. Many families use a tech contract to help facilitate these conversations, establish expectations and lay down ground rules”…Read more
  • Can kids’ teeth reveal emotional trauma? A new study suggests yes: “Adverse experiences in childhood may affect that growth process, leaving abnormal marks or stress lines that permanently record the specific day or week in development when that stress occurred”…Read more
  • Common Sense Media on Body Image: Check out these two blog posts on what families can do to promote healthy body image for girls and for boys.

Welcome to Hope House's January-February 2020 Community Education E-bulletin

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

There are lots of ways you can still get involved for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. The theme this year is #1thing. Each of us can do small things to help make a difference in raising awareness, providing support, and preventing abuse. Join us in wearing orange for #Orange4Love Day on February 11th and spread the message that everyone deserves safe and healthy relationships. Check out the library displays in Portage, Montello, Rio, and Randolph. Look for Hope House's letter to the editor in your local newspaper and for our PSAs on MAX FM 99.7, Wisconsin 106.1, and Magnum stations. For social media graphics, posters, fill-in-the-blank cards, handouts, videos, and more, visit our Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month webpage.
Hope House's February Wish List
Most needed items include:
  • Food: Juices, Frozen Pancakes and Waffles, Individually-Packaged Snacks (large boxes of granola bars, fruit snacks, cookies, chips, etc.)
  • Women's Clothing: New Slippers, Robes, and PJs (all sizes)
  • Household Supplies: New White Washcloths, Gallon Ziploc Bags
  • Cleaning Supplies: Disinfectant Wipes and Spray, Lysol Laundry Sanitizer/Disinfectant, Bleach-Free Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Disposable Latex Gloves
Hope House also accepts used cell phones, smartphones, iPods, and iPads as we send them to a recycling center to later be used as 911 cell phones and receive a cash donation.
Donations can be dropped off at 720 Ash Street in Baraboo. Questions? Please call us at 608-356-9123. Thank you!

Please note that at this time we are not accepting stuffed animals/plush toys, used toys, used books, clothes (except for what's listed above), shoes, TVs, bar soap, furniture, or travel-size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, or lotion. We encourage those looking to donate travel-size items to donate them to the Backpack Project. The Backpack Project strives to provide Baraboo School District students who are financially challenged to enter the school doors on the first day "just like everyone else" and to show these children the community supports and encourages them to learn and do their best. Becky Hovde is the contact, and she can be reached at 608-963-8230 or Hivebiz65@gmail.com.

Domestic Violence News
  • Can You Cure a Domestic Abuser?: “Results for ACTV are preliminary but promising, especially given the dearth of effective domestic-violence interventions. In a pilot study, published in 2017, men who successfully completed an ACTV program were nearly 50 percent less likely to be rearrested for domestic violence as participants in Iowa’s old program”…Read more
  • NRCDV and NO MORE Launch Verbal Abuse Campaign and Resources: “The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence is proud to announce that we have teamed up with NO MORE to send a clear message: Verbal abuse IS domestic violence…That’s why NRCDV and NO MORE launched the #NOMOREVerbalAbuse campaign and website. The website contains: Information and graphics about verbal abuse; Information on how to recognize healthy vs. unhealthy relationships; The #NOMOREVerbalAbuse Pledge; A toolkit containing shareable resources; Printable #NOMOREVerbalAbuse signage; Verbal abuse survivor stories.

Sexual Assault News
  • Kaul: More needs to be done to combat sex trafficking: “Law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin are not consistently reporting human trafficking cases, leading to incomplete information and is likely undercounting the number of people who are forced into the sex trade, a report released by the state attorney general on Thursday found.”…Read more
  • Sexual Assault Survivors Who Want Restorative Justice Have Limited Options: “She didn’t trust the Baltimore Police Department because of how its officers had treated sexual assault and rape victims in the past, she said. Plus she didn’t think putting Matt in jail would help things. What Katelyn wanted, like so many survivors, was for Matt to know what he did was wrong and never do it to anyone again. So they agreed to seek out a restorative justice process in which they would discuss what happened in a mediated setting to help Katelyn heal. ‘I wanted to know why it happened, and I wanted to not be hurt by it,’ Katelyn said. ‘I wanted no one to be hurt as a result of what happened, including me and including him.’ But after two years of searching, Katelyn and Matt have been unable to start a restorative justice process”…Read more
  • Wisconsin National Guard advised sexual assault victims to sign waiver forms, avoid police: “For the Guard, not involving or notifying law enforcement should be the exception not the rule and should occur only when the victim requests they not be involved, Darpino said. ‘In my opinion, a sexual assault in the National Guard in a state status should go to law enforcement and the Guard should only handle the criminal case after it’s declined by the state,’”…Read more
  • The 'Surviving R. Kelly Part II' Trailer Focuses On The Unflinching Series' Aftermath: “Now, the story continues, as Lifetime released the trailer for Surviving R. Kelly Part II: The Reckoning on Wednesday, which chronicles the aftermath of the first season, including the federal sex charges that have were leveled against R. Kelly in July…The three-night event will introduce viewers to new stories and details, and will investigate why the alleged victims went unheard for decades”…Read more
  • Pope Francis Ends 'Top Secret' Status For Sex Abuse Cases, Promising Transparency: “‘It is also now time for Pope Francis to mandate that crimes be reported to the police by bishops, religious superiors and others,’ he said, ‘and to make documents and testimony public with the appropriate redactions of victims' names’”…Read more
  • It’s not just passengers being assaulted in Ubers. Drivers are at risk, too.: “More than 3,000 people were sexually assaulted during Uber rides last year. The disturbing numbers, released by the company on Thursday, have many concerned about the safety of using Uber and other rideshare apps — especially since the data came out the same week that 19 women sued Lyft, saying drivers for the company sexually assaulted them. But it’s not just passengers who are being assaulted. According to Uber’s data, 42 percent of those reporting sexual assault were drivers”…Read more

Parents' and Youth Service Providers' Section
  • Train Your Brain to Be Kinder. A new Science of Happiness Video! Boost your kindness by sending kind thoughts to someone you love—and to someone you don't get along with—with a little guidance from these students.
  • Video Games and Online Chats Are ‘Hunting Grounds’ for Sexual Predators: “In many instances, the abusive relationships start in the games themselves. In other cases, adults posing as teenagers move conversations from gaming sites and chat rooms to platforms like Facebook Messenger, Kik and Skype, where they can communicate more privately…After making contact, predators often build on the relationship by sending gifts or gaming currency, such as V-Bucks in Fortnite. Then they begin desensitizing children to sexual terms and imagery before asking them to send naked pictures and videos of their own”…Read more
  • A Colorado high school student wrote a worrisome message on a restroom wall. Classmates are responding with a growing display of support.: “The question read, ‘Is life worth all the B.S.?’ Golden High School English teacher Ashley Ferraro noticed the message in the girls’ bathroom last week. She immediately encouraged her students to respond with their own supportive words written on sticky notes and posted on that bathroom wall. More than 50 notes now surround that desperate question”…Read more​​
720 Ash St/P.O. Box 557, Baraboo, WI 53913
24-Hour, Confidential Helpline:
​1-800-584-6790
Resource Center Office: 608-356-9123
www.HopeHouseSCW.org
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram 
@hopehousescw

Fall 2018-2019 E-bulletins