Blog Archives

September 2015 Community Education E-bulletin

9/3/2015

Welcome to the September 2015 edition of Hope House's Community Education E-bulletin!

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
2. Hope House Donation Needs
3. Sexual Assault
4. Domestic Violence
5. Children & Youth

6. Miscellaneous News
7. Local News
8. Parents & Youth Service Providers' Section
9. Resources & Training

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), and Hope House staff and volunteers are busy planning activities. We will be raising awareness at area high school football games utilizing the NO MORE campaign, whose PSAs are often run during NFL games. We will have DVAM displays at local courthouses and community buildings. Community events for which we'll be staffing a booth in October will be focused on domestic violence awareness. For more information, including how you can get help with organizing our events or plan your own awareness activity at your school, business, church, or community group, please call Hope House at 608-356-9123. More information to follow in next month's e-bulletin!

Hope House Donation Needs
Monetary donations are most needed. Individuals have the option of donating online. Please note that a portion of your online donation will go towards PayPal fees. Donations can be mailed to Hope House, P.O. Box 557, Baraboo, WI 53913. We also appreciate gas cards, gift cards (Walmart, Kwik Trip, Walgreens, Kohl’s), taxi vouchers from Baraboo Taxi, and used cell phones, iPods and iPads. Please note that we are not accepting stuffed animals/plush toys, used toys, clothes (except for new sweatshirts and sweatpants), shoes, used books, furniture, TVs, bar soap, hats, scarves or travel-size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, or body wash. Current needs include

Bathrooms: Toilet paper, Deodorant, Disposable razors, Small garbage cans with bags, Nail clippers, Toilet bowl cleaner, Cleaning supplies such as Lysol disinfecting spray and floor cleaner, Clorox wipes, Hairspray, Bleach, Bathroom rugs and bath mats
Kitchen: Ziploc bags, Tupperware, Small mason jars, Dishwasher soap, 13-Gallon garbage bags, Paper towels, Silverware, Brush for cleaning bottles, Fruit juice, Sip cups, Milk, Saran wrap, Aluminum foil
Laundry: Power laundry detergent, Dryer sheets, Fabric softener sheets
Clothing for Women and Kids: Winter boots, Socks, Women’s underwear, Medium-Large size pajamas, New sweatshirts and sweatpants
Misc: New white full/twin bed sheets, Double stroller, Pack 'n Play, Baby wipes, Band-Aids, Diapers and pull-ups, Pocket-sized calendars, Strollers, Baby bottles, Umbrellas, Hangers, Weather radio, Journals, Exercise balls, Yoga/exercise DVDs, Relaxation CDs, Baby thermometer, CD players, Regular light bulbs

Special Note about Travel-Size Items: 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. If interested in donating towards this project, please contact Becky Hovde at 608-963-8230 or hivebiz@centurytel.net.

News & Research
Sexual Assault

These Disturbing "First Day of School" Banners Reveal Fraternity Rape Culture at Its Worst: “But some students at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, apparently decided to make 'welcome week' a little worse for parents and arriving freshmen…Another Sigma Nu chapter at the University of Central Florida recently found itself in hot water after a student videotaped members of the frat, including a man accused of sexual assault, chanting 'let's rape some b****es' at an off-campus party. The signs that appeared at ODU aren't the only ones popping up on the nation's campuses”…Read more
Watch Josh Hutcherson, Zoe Saldana and Haim in a New Sexual Assault PSA: Check out the new consent PSA from the It’s On Us campaign
Sexual Abuse to Prison Pipeline Report: A Native Perspective: “‘Native girls have the highest rates of poverty and exposure to childhood sexual violence in the nation,’ notes Sandi Pierce, president of Otayonih Research...Perversely girls, especially girls of color, who experience sexual abuse and violence are routed into the juvenile justice system because of their response to these traumatic experiences, according to the report. Girls’ common reactions to such trauma often include running away from home, substance abuse and truancy. These status violations top the list of crimes for which girls are most likely incarcerated”…Read more
Beyond Guilt or Innocence in Prep School Rape Case, Question of 'Ugliness': “In the current trial in Concord, N.H., Owen Labrie, a former St. Paul’s School student, is charged with raping the girl when he was a senior last year. The case has brought to light a tradition called ‘Senior Salute,’ in which male seniors allegedly compete to have sex with younger girls…She said she struggled with wanting to be 'polite,' then she felt 'frozen….I felt like I was out of my body....I didn't want to believe this was happening to me’…When people don’t immediately report rape to police, it’s sometimes an effect of trauma, experts say…Read more...Read related article: Owen Labrie, Former Student at Elite Prep School, Acquitted of Felony Sexual Assault
Homeless Women Find Sexual Violence Part of Life on the Street: “Ms. Goode said the sexual abuse she was subjected to by the father of her children — sometimes three or four times a day — left her repeatedly pregnant and destroyed her physically and mentally…Before long, Ms. Goode ran away. She has been homeless ever since. Recent discourse about homelessness has focused on feeding crises and the growing number of homeless veterans. But there is another pervading issue that even the homeless aren’t talking about with each other — sexual violence as a cause and consequence of homelessness, particularly among women”…Read more
In New York City, Sexual Violence And Drug Abuse Often Go Hand In Hand: “The nonmedical use of prescription opioids (POs) has become an issue of serious public concern within the last decade. In this time frame, young adults especially have increased their use of Pos, with self-reported use at 11 percent. Overdose deaths involving POs now outnumber those involving cocaine and heroin combined. Though at first glance they may seem unrelated, this upsurge in nonmedical opiate use can be tied to sexual violence”…Read more
Amnesty International Votes to Recommend Decriminalizing Sex Work: “The resolution recommends a policy that would decriminalize all aspects of adult, consensual sex work, while still classifying coercion into sex work or having sex with a minor as a major human rights violation. The resolution is intended to protect adult sex workers from stigma and abuse by decriminalizing aspects of sex work including buying sex, pimping and operating a brothel…Critics agree with Amnesty that sex workers themselves shouldn’t face legal consequences, but argue that pimps and sex buyers should”…Read more

When A College Reports Zero Sexual Assaults, That's A Terrible Sign: "Close to half of residential four-year colleges nationwide reported zero sexual assaults from 2011 to 2013, according to a new analysis of federal data shared in advance with The Huffington Post, something sexual assault advocates and experts consider a troubling sign. 'If you see a school with zero reports, then it suggests that at that school, no one's comfortable reporting it,'"...Read more...Learn more about the creators of the project
Bill Cosby to Be Deposed in Sexual Assault Case: “Cosby's attorneys had previously tried to block the questioning, but that appeal was denied. They also tried and failed to convince the court to have Huth give her deposition first. Cosby has countersued Huth, accusing her of extortion. Prosecutors didn’t pursue criminal charges in the Huth case because of the statute of limitations”…Read more...Read related article: Three More Women Join 'Unlikely Sisterhood,' Accuse Bill Cosby of Sexual Assault
Sweden Drops Sexual Assault Investigation Against WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange: "Swedish prosecutors have dropped their investigation into two sexual assault allegations — one of sexual molestation and the other of coercion — against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange due to the country’s statute of limitations, AFP reports. Assange is still facing a more serious rape allegation, which will not expire until 2020, according to the BBC. Under Swedish law, an individual may not be formally charged with a crime until he or she is questioned. As investigators were not able to question Assange before the two deadlines passed this week, the investigation has been ended"...Read more
Chrissie Hynde Under Fire for Saying Rape Victims Can Be at Fault: “‘This feeling of self-blame, described by Chrissie Hynde, can often prevent survivors from coming forward and getting the support that they deserve,’ Katherine Hull Fliflet, VP of Communications at RAINN, said in a statement. ‘Regardless of the circumstances surrounding a sexual assault, a victim is never to blame. The responsibility always lies solely with the perpetrator, no matter what.’ Former fans of the star and critics expressed their disappointment on Twitter”…Read more
Chris Kluwe, Don McPherson Explain Why Men Need To Talk About Rape: “‘The locker room environment and the locker room culture tends to be, in a lot of ways, one where women are seen as prizes. It’s seen as a competition because that’s what you do for your sport. There’s a goal to be won, there’s a prize to be sought,’ he said. ‘Unfortunately what this does is it teaches men to view women as objects as opposed to other people, and that’s what leads to being able to commit these horrific acts of violence against them.’ The internalization of that culture starts at a ‘very, very young’ age and has everything to do with how we define masculinity, McPherson added”…Read more
Margaret Cho Calls on Sexual Assault Survivors to Speak Out: “Margaret Cho is once again inspiring sexual assault survivors to publicly share their stories, this time with the hashtag #isurviveandTHRIVE, launched today”…Read more

Domestic Violence

In New Memoir, Maria Tells Us How She Got, How She Got To 'Sesame Street': “She tells NPR's David Greene that when her father used to become violent toward her mother, her brothers would find a place to hide, but she would try to intervene. ‘I found myself always being in the middle of them — trying to protect her,’”…Read more
MLB Announces a Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy: “Discipline will not carry a minimum or maximum penalty, but rather the Commissioner can issue the discipline ‘he believes is appropriate in light of the severity of the conduct.’ Discipline will not be contingent on whether the player pleads guilty or is found guilty of a crime. A player can appeal discipline to an arbitration panel. A team cannot discipline a player unless the Commissioner delegates that power to the team”…Read more

Domestic Abuse Is A Leading Cause Of Homelessness, But New NYC Program May Bring Some Relief: “Those fleeing domestic violence nationwide are struggling with a critical piece of recovery: finding a permanent home. As rents skyrocket and waiting lists for public housing grow, victims often end up homeless for years — or go back to their abusers for lack of options…Advocates say relief came from Mayor Bill de Blasio last year when he started a rent subsidy program, in part for domestic abuse victims. City officials also have eased some requirements that made it more challenging to give housing priority to such victims. But many fear it won't last”…Read more
We're Missing The Big Picture On Mass Shootings: “The Huffington Post analyzed five years of mass shooting data...We looked at shootings in which at least four people were killed with a gun...We found that in 57 percent of mass shootings, the shooter targeted either a family member or an intimate partner. According to HuffPost's analysis, 64 percent of mass shooting victims were women and children. That's startling, since women typically make up only 15 percent of total gun violence homicide victims, and children only 7 percent”…Read more

Children & Youth

This Quick-Thinking Teen Cleverly Befriended a Woman's Kidnapper to Rescue Her: "'My plan was to keep them in a public place where he wouldn't hurt her’...After arriving in Laval, Bonnet suggested they grab a bite to eat. At the restaurant, he gave the pair $50 for food and excused himself to use the restroom. Finally having the opportunity, he called the police and told them ‘someone had been kidnapped.’ Officers arrived minutes later. What Bonnet hadn't known at the time was that police were already looking for the perpetrator and his victim. The abusive man Bonnet reported had abducted his ex-girlfriend just hours beforehand”…Read more
Your Brain is Particularly Vulnerable to Trauma at Two Distinct Ages: “According to Tara Swart, a neuroscientist and senior lecturer at MIT, your ‘terrible twos’ and those turbulent teen years are when the brain’s wiring is most malleable. As a result, traumatic experiences that occur during these time periods can alter brain activity and ultimately change gene expressions—sometimes for good”…Read more
How Excusing Tyga And Kylie Jenner's Relationship Validates The Sexualization of Young Girls: “To put it bluntly: these older men aren't having sex with 16-year-olds because these young women are mature. They're sleeping with them because they're young, and in a culture that's obsessed with youth, virginity and the perceived sexual ‘purity of women,’ to ‘get in early’ is the ultimate win”…Read more
Why the Silence? Child Abuse Expert Weighs In: “She says that while the allegations in the Pak's Karate case may seem staggering, but they fit a familiar pattern – multiple victims, hundreds of incidents, over a period of many years…She says that high-achieving athletes are especially vulnerable – not just because they often love and respect their coaches, but because they're driven to succeed…Societal pressures also play a role, including fears of how victims may be perceived. Male victims are significantly less likely to report sex abuse”…Read more

Miscellaneous

Signs of the Times: Why A Mighty Girl Supports Gender-Neutral Toy Signage: "As supporters of ending gender discrimination and stereotyping, we applaud Target’s decision – and the many other efforts like it happening both in North America and around the world – so we wanted to address some of the most common questions we’ve been hearing about gender-neutral signage and marketing: how it works, why it’s important, and how it fits into other efforts to change the way the world sees girls and boys.Gender-neutral marketing and merchandising is about much more than political correctness; instead, it’s a sign of the times, one that points to a shift away from strictly limited gender roles and towards a world where everyone can pursue their interests and talents without feeling like the odd one out"...Read more...Read related article: Target Hits the Bull's-Eye by Announcing an End to Gender-Based Signs in Sections of Its Stores

Local News

Amos Day, 34, of New Lisbon, found guilty of first degree child sexual assault...Read more
Cole McCormick, 23, of Poynette, charged with felony second degree sexual assault of a child under 16…Read more
Thomas J. “T.J.” Traver, 26, of the town of Kingston, was on probation for domestic abuse at the time of his arrest for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl…Read more
Manuel Sarmiento, 75, of Baraboo, charged with sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl in 2012, ruled competent to stand trial…Read more
James Hubred, 44, of Columbus, charged with felony child abuse of an 11-year-old boy…Read more
Jesse Leatherberry, 18, of Baraboo, charged with second-degree sexual assault of an unconscious woman...Read more
John Lomax, 52, of West Baraboo, faces 40 felony counts of child pornography possession…Read more

Parents' & Youth Service Providers' Section

Local Training Opportunity on Child Sexual Abuse: The Sauk County Coordinated Community Response Team is sponsoring a free presentation by Scott Neubauer, of the Child Abuse Education Foundation, on identifying child victims of sexual assault. The presentation will be on Thursday, September 24 at 10:30 am at the West Square Building, Room B30, in Baraboo. No registration required. Learn more at the Child Abuse Education Foundation website.
Suicide Prevention Resources: The American Association of Suicidology has a webpage with resources such as fact sheets, videos, toolkits, links, and more. Check out the video from Mayo Clinic on talking to teens that may be thinking about killing themselves.
Guide Helps Educators Navigate Social Media: “These are the conclusions of a new free publication, The Educator’s Guide to Social Media from ConnectSafely.org. Written by Kerry Gallagher and myself, the guide answers the basic questions of how you can safely use social media in class and for professional development and how to maintain both student and personal privacy”…Read more
Webinar on Bullying Prevention and Suicide Prevention for Schools: SAMHSA and the American School Health Association’s webinar “provided an overview of the risk and impact of bullying and suicide in school-aged children and highlighted the connection between these public health issues and the ‘whole child’ concept. The webinar showcased SAMHSA's mobile applications--KnowBullying and Suicide Safe—and other key resources as tools to promote bullying prevention and suicide prevention in schools”…View the webinar
Parenting & Social Media: Common Sense Media has several resources for parents related to social media, and media in general. Here are just a few: 3 Kinds of Apps That Stir Up Drama in Schools, How to Set Screen Rules That Stick, and Can you recommend a messaging app that's safe for kids?
Healthy Sexuality as a Protective Factor against Sexual Assault: Advocates for Youth has a guide for parents to help them talk to their children about sexuality, which may help protect them from abuse. The information is broken down for talking to children ages 3-18. The Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault has created an infographic to easily access this information.
Webinar on Understanding Sex Offenders: "Awareness to Action sponsored the webinar, 'Understanding Sex Offenders: Information for Child Serving Organizations and Other Adults' by Dr. Anna Salter. This webinar runs approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes and can be viewed in segments during a staff meeting or can be assigned to staff for viewing and then discussed later."
October is National Bullying Prevention Month: "National Bullying Prevention Month is a campaign founded in 2006 by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. The campaign is held during the month of October and is a time when communities can unite to raise awareness of bullying prevention through events, activities, outreach, and education. PACER offers a variety of resources to use during the month and throughout the year to inspire, educate, and involve others to join the movement and prevent bullying in their communities"...View resources here

Resources & Training
Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Trainings for Law Enforcement and Other Responders: The Department of Justice is offering free two day trainings in Wisconsin on sexual assault and on domestic violence. For more information, including training content, locations and dates, please see this flyer.

KidPower’s How to Recognize and Stop Workplace Bullying and Harassment: Check out this radio and video interview on workplace bullying and harassment and three related resources.

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