Blog Archives

September 2017 Community Education E-bulletin

9/5/2017

Welcome to the September 2017 edition of Hope House's Community Education E-bulletin!

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. Domestic Violence Awareness Month
2. Self-Care Luncheon in the Dells
3. Hope House Donation Needs
4. Sexual Assault
5. Domestic Violence
6. Children and Youth
7. Miscellaneous News
8. Local News
9. Parents' and Youth Service Providers' Section
10. Training Opportunity
11. Resources

Please note that our e-bulletin will be on hiatus for the rest of the year while
Hope House's Community Education Program Manager is on maternity leave.
Look for the next edition in 2018!

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 used 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 the following:

Miscellaneous: Deodorant, Full-Size Bottles of Shampoo and Conditioner, Toilet Paper, New Underwear, New Sweatpants and Sweatshirts, New Pajama Pants, 20-Gallon Storage Totes, Baby Wipes
Kitchen: Paper Towels, Dishwasher Soap, Dish Soap, Tall Kitchen Garbage Bags, Sugar, Coffee, Non-Perishable Food Items, Fresh Produce
Office/Program Supplies: Copy Paper, Journals, Pocket Calendars, Colored Pencils, Coloring Books, Play-Doh, Snacks, New Stuffed Animals for the Child Appointed Special Advocate Program
Cleaning supplies: Laundry Detergent, Lysol Spray and Wipes, All Purpose Cleaner, Magic Eraser, and Toilet Bowl Cleaner

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
Sexual Assault

11 Small Victories For Sexual Assault Survivors In 2017: “More than halfway through 2017 and sexual assault survivors have already collected some wins in everywhere from college campuses to Silicon Valley. Here are a few reminders to not lose hope”…Read more
Why Taylor Swift's $1 Sexual Assault Lawsuit Is Huge For Women Everywhere: “‘Although what they experience is violating, humiliating, and wrong, these cases are rarely brought forward or prosecuted,’ Palumbo says, adding that a good portion of people don't even think groping or fondling is sexual assault. ‘This is why cases like this are so important in educating the public’… As for the $1, Anderson says a person might sue for such a small amount of damages because the defense team often argues that a person is suing for money. ‘By suing for so little money, you’re probably trying to quash that narrative and make that completely unlikely,’”…Read more…Read related articles: Taylor Swift’s Sexual Assault Testimony Was Sharp, Gutsy, and Satisfying and Jury Rules in Favor of Taylor Swift in Groping Case
FYI, Giving Consent Doesn't "Kill The Moment" — Even In Paradise: “‘Consent’ is a buzzword on this season of Bachelor In Paradise…After the allegations of sexual assault in June, and the subsequent investigation, the show had to address how they'd handle consent going forward. The producers decided that there would be a couple of new rules: Contestants could only be served two drinks per hour, and they had to give verbal consent on camera before engaging in any ‘intimate moments,’…But her comment does echo a problematic view that many people have about consent: that it's a vibe-destroyer that turns sexual encounters into clinical transactions. And that's just not true. Giving consent just means that someone is sober enough to make a decision, is able to indicate that they're interested in sexual activity, and isn't feeling coerced”…Read more
NCAA Prioritizes Sexual Violence Prevention: “Yesterday the NCAA adopted a sexual violence policy that will require coaches, college athletes and athletics administrators to receive sexual violence prevention each year. This new policy will contribute toward stopping sexual violence before it occurs by engaging individuals throughout the college athletic community to define their role in sexual violence prevention. Furthermore, by making a commitment to annual prevention education efforts, NCAA recognizes that the culture change it is seeking cannot happen without the investment of time and continual practice”…Read more
Sexual Assault Survivors React To Steubenville Rapist Joining Their College’s Football Team: “In March 2013, former Steubenville high school students Ma’lik Richmond and Trent Mays were convicted of raping an unconscious 16-year-old girl at a party in 2012. Now, 20-year-old Richmond (who spent less than a year in a juvenile detention center and had to register as a sex offender) attends Youngstown State University in Ohio and recently joined the school’s football team as a defensive tackle. The decision, and Richmond’s new and high-profile position on campus, have stirred up strong reactions from other Youngstown students ― especially survivors of sexual assault who say participation in athletics is a privilege that Richmond lost the moment he raped a 16-year-old girl”…Read more

Dispelling the Myth of the Girl Who Cried Rape: “Victims give inconsistent, incomplete or omitted information for numerous reasons. Neurobiology explains what happens. Often, when a victim experiences sexual assault, the pre-frontal cortex, principal in memory and decision making, can be temporarily impaired. The amygdala, which encodes emotional experiences, takes control, recording specific fragments of sensory information. According to clinical psychologist David Lisak, this is why many victims can only recall visceral sensory details, such as the sound of a voice, but can’t give a linear account. In addition, many victims don’t immediately report an attack, also for a myriad of reasons. A wide range of factors, such as not knowing it was legally rape, using denial and suppression as a coping tactic or fearing that they will be disbelieved and blamed, all influence a victim’s willingness to report”…Read more
Alaska Should Declare a Sexual Assault State of Disaster: “Alaska's sexual crime rates are three times higher than the national average, and child sexual assault rates are six times the national average. A 2016 state report confirms that, disproportionately, victims of sexual violence are between 11 and 17 years old, from Western Alaska or the Anchorage Bowl, and were attacked by someone they knew. According to the FBI Uniform Crime Report, 59 percent of Alaska women report having experienced sexual violence. Native Alaskans make up 61 percent of rape victims in the state, making Alaska Native women 9.7 times more likely than other Alaskans to be victims. Remarkable though they are, these numbers are by all accounts conservative, as the reported assault rate comprises only a portion of the overall rate of incidents”…Read more
Dashcam Footage Shows Police Subjecting Woman to Invasive Vaginal Search: “In 2015, a woman named Charneisha Corley was pulled over while running an errand, and alleges that she was then subjected to a public cavity search of her vagina after Harris County officers claimed they smelled marijuana in her car…In an interview with The Huffington Post, Corley says unequivocally that the officers ‘sexually assaulted, raped’ and ‘molested’ her: Corley said she received ‘bruises, cuts and scrapes’ from deputies forcing her to the ground. The emotional trauma, she said, was worse. ‘I’m traumatized,’ she said. ‘It was humiliating. I feel like the law is supposed to protect you and not do this. I just don’t feel safe anymore. My self-esteem has literally dropped and I can’t even step out and be seen because I feel so embarrassed’”…Read more
Singer Stops Festival Show To Call Out Sexual Assault In The Crowd: “Sam Carter, lead singer for the metal band Architects, has rightly been hailed a hero for stopping in the middle of a show to defend a fan from a groper. The band was performing at the Lowlands Festival in Biddinghuizen, the Netherlands, Friday night when Carter saw the sexual assault”…Read more
A Woman Sitting On A Flight Helped Save Kids From Sex Abuse After She Saw A Man's Texts: “The woman, a Seattle-area preschool teacher, was on a Southwest Airlines flight from Seattle to San Jose on Monday when she noticed the passenger sitting right in front of her texting disturbing messages about sexually molesting young children, police said. Thanks to an enlarged font and big smartphone screen, she was able to read and take pictures of the messages and alert the flight crew. Upon landing, an attendant notified a San Jose police officer working inside the terminal”…Read more

Domestic Violence

Charlottesville Car Attack Suspect Accused Of Domestic Violence Multiple Times: “In 2010, his mother, Samantha Bloom, told police that her son hit her in the head, covered her mouth with his hands and threatened to assault her after she told the young teen to stop playing video games, according to The Washington Post. The following year, the police were called twice. In October 2011, Bloom, who is disabled and uses a wheelchair, called 911 to report that Fields was ‘being very threatening toward her,’ the dispatcher wrote. The next month, police were requested after Fields allegedly spat in his mother’s face and stood behind her with a 12-inch knife. If this is sounding familiar, it should: A history of domestic violence is a common thread linking many mass killers and violent terrorists”…Read more
Ezekiel Elliott Suspended Six Games by NFL after Domestic Violence Investigation
NFL Investigating Alleged Domestic Violence Incident Involving Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry

Children & Youth

Eighth Circuit: Title IX Won’t Cover High Schooler Who Reported Her Assault at a College: “To read the statute, as the court did here, to only protect students from the depredations of other students is poor public policy, flies in the face of existing guidance from the Department of Education, and does nothing to motivate colleges to create the safest environments possible. If invited guests and employees fall outside the scope of Title IX coverage, the statute is meaningless, as colleges are therefore not obliged to keep campuses free of discrimination for the large groups of people who regularly visit”…Read more

Five Years Since Steubenville: Five Important Lessons: “Have we made progress in five years? I’d like to think we have, but there is more that we can do. Let’s take these lessons, learn from them, and take action now”…Read more

Miscellaneous News

Want To Fire A Professor For Sexual Harassment? It's Going To Take A While.: “The administration may want Escobedo gone, and the school’s own report may have painted Escobedo as a predator who ‘has engaged in a pattern of exploiting females who are subordinate’ to him, but because of tenure, university policies entitle him to an administrative process that has kept him on staff for months. The Athens News reports that Escobedo’s salary last year was $87,000. At any time, Escobedo could resign without facing formal punishment, something the graduate students want to prevent. Now Adams and Hempstead are questioning whether tenure, a system they both believe in as it safeguards intellectual freedom, has actually hamstrung how universities like theirs deal with sexual harassment cases”…Read more…Read related article: Sexual Harassment of Graduate Students by Faculty is a National Problem
On Having and Seeing Self-Harm Scars: “My brain was scarred by childhood abuse and self-injury was a symptom of that damage; a symptom that has improved with treatment despite its history remaining mapped across my limbs. I am not asking for attention by wearing a tank top; I just don’t want to steam-roast in a cardigan throughout July (or maybe I just like that tank top because it’s cute as heck). I do not want to answer intrusive questions about my life or tolerate touch from strangers any more than the next person…There’s no need to announce your reaction to a person’s self-harm scars any more than you should announce disliking a coworker’s haircut or wondering why the guy sitting next to you doesn’t have eyebrows. Even telling people that they are ‘beautiful’ or ‘inspiring’ on account of their scars is not necessarily appropriate. Think about how you might treat someone in a wheelchair: some people with visible differences on their bodies may find such words to be positive, but myself and many others both dislike having our difference dragged to the forefront and dislike the romanticization of our condition”…Read more

Local News

Man Killed in Pardeeville Shooting with Police Identified: “The man who was killed in a shooting with police has been identified by officials. According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Thomas Selje, age 64, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities say a deputy responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at a home located at 416 Vince Street and arrived to gunfire coming from the residence”…Read more
Alex Nava Rodriguez, 38, of Mauston, faces one count of first-degree child sexual assault-sexual contact with a child under age 13…Read more
Duane Jurgenson, 37, of Poynette, convicted of first-degree sexual assault of a child Wednesday following a three-day trial...Read more
Brian J. Jones, 46, of Camp Douglas, faces 15 charges, including two counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child, in alleged incidents between July and November of 2015…Read more
Wilson Miller, 29, of Portage, is charged with second-degree sexual assault and false imprisonment…Read more
Jason S. Olson, 24, of Elroy, charged with false imprisonment, domestic abuse offense; misdemeanor battery, domestic abuse; and disorderly conduct, domestic abuse…Read more

Parents & Youth Service Providers' Section

The First Thing Teachers Should Do When School Starts is Talk about Hatred in America. Here’s Help: “While such discussions are often seen as politically charged and teachers like to steer clear of politics, these conversations are about fundamental American values, and age-appropriate ways of discussing hatred and tolerance in a diverse and vibrant democracy are as important as anything young people can learn in school…The hashtag #CharlottesvilleCurriculum was started by Melinda D. Anderson, a contributing writer to the Atlantic, who wrote in an email: ‘I started the hashtag for a very simple reason: I know that in these situations a common reaction by educators is, ‘What should I say? Where do I even begin? I also know that lots of educators are on Twitter – and they look to the platform to connect and learn’”…Read more…Read related resources: Talking to Children When Hate Makes Headlines, Books That Promote Tolerance and Diversity, and Explaining the News to Our Kids
One in Ten Girls is Catcalled Before Her 11th Birthday. Here Are 6 Things Parents Can Do About It: “Why is this such a big deal? Let us count the ways. First of all, according to Girl Scouts’ Developmental Psychologist, Dr. Andrea Bastiani Archibald, ‘catcalling and other objectifying behaviors can make girls feel their value lies solely in how they look as opposed to what they think or the things they can accomplish. That kicks off a domino effect of girls engaging in self-objectifying—feeling overly concerned about how they look, comparing their bodies to those of other girls and women, and even judging other girls based on their looks.’ Catcalling can also make girls feel ashamed of their bodies or threatened, like they have to be extra cautious when out in public. None of these are things that anyone should have to spend time and energy thinking about—let alone an 11-year-old girl”…Read more
How I Handled Homophobia In My Third Grade Classroom: “Two boys started hugging each other. Their embrace was cut short by a third boy standing next to them. 'Are you GAY?' he boomed, loud enough for everyone in the hallway to hear. The two boys quickly leapt apart and continued walking in line as if nothing had happened. However, something huge had happened, something that many would be wont to ignore. Clearly, despite the fact that these children are only 8 years old, they have already largely internalized our society’s homophobia, and they have already adopted many of the ideas of toxic masculinity, one of which is that men showing affection towards each other is weak and not okay. I knew I had to act”…Read more
High School Is Too Late to Start Teaching Consent to Kids: “With 10-year-olds, addressing that problematic behavior is challenging, but not excruciating. Students may struggle to wrap their minds around hypothetical sexual scenarios when they’ve yet to confidently hold someone’s hand, but for the most part, messages like 'you should verbally ask for permission' and 'you shouldn’t pressure someone after they say ‘no'' get minimal pushback. At the middle school level, students’ mental models for sexual intimacy are still pliable; as educators, we can challenge some of the toxic norms that are tragically common in our culture by comparing sex to things middle-schoolers understand, like cupcakes, pizza, or tea”…Read more
17 Apps and Websites Kids Are Heading to After Facebook: “You don't need to know the ins and outs of all the apps, sites, and terms that are 'hot' right now (and frankly, if you did, they wouldn't be trendy anymore). But knowing the basics -- what they are, why they're popular, and what problems can crop up when they're not used responsibly -- can make the difference between a positive and a negative experience for your kid. Below, we've laid out some of the most popular types of apps and websites for teens: texting, microblogging, live-streaming, self-destructing/secret, and chatting/meeting/dating. The more you know about each, the better you'll be able to communicate with your teen about safe choices. The bottom line for most of these tools? If teens are using them respectfully, appropriately, and with a little parental guidance, they're mostly fine. So take inventory of your kids' apps and review the best practices”…Read more

Training Opportunity

Free Upcoming Adult Mental Health First Aid Training in Prairie du Sac: Mental Health First Aid teaches a 5-step action plan to offer initial help to people with signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in a crisis and connect them with the appropriate professional, peer, social or self-help care. Anyone can take the 8-hour Mental Health First Aid course — first responders, teachers, faith community leaders, human resources professionals, caring citizens. Learn more here.

Resources

National Best Practices for Sexual Assault Kits: A Multidisciplinary Approach: "The National Institute of Justice’s 'National Best Practices for Sexual Assault Kits: A Multidisciplinary Approach' are the first federal guidelines for handling rape kits in jurisdictions nationwide. The report includes 35 recommendations outlining a victim-centered, multidisciplinary approach to the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases, including best practices for forensic evidence collection and analysis. The best practices reflect the principles we have advanced in our work to end the backlog: testing all sexual assault kits, following up on investigations, and engaging with survivors using a trauma-informed approach."
Six Things White People Can Do To Reach Friends and Family Members to End Racism: “It’s not likely you will reach others by ranting on (in person or on social media) about how wrong they are in their beliefs. It will take your honest and visible engagement with your own life of privilege and commitment to social justice. So, here are five specific suggestions”…Read more

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September 2017 Community Education E-bulletin

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