Blog Archives

November 2016 Community Education E-bulletin

10/31/2016

Welcome to the November 2016 edition of Hope House's Community Education E-bulletin!

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. Upcoming Stewards of Children Training
2. Hiring for Crisis Response Advocates
3. Empower Baraboo Advisory Committee
4. "Cutter" Performance
5. Donation Needs
6. Sexual Assault
7. Domestic Violence

8. Children & Youth
9. Miscellaneous News
10. Local News
11. Parents' & Youth Service Providers' Section
12. Faith Communities' Section
13. Resources

November 14 in New Lisbon: Free Stewards of Children Training
You're invited to a free Darkness to Light Stewards of Children sexual abuse prevention training for adults on Monday, November 14 from 4-6:30pm at the New Lisbon City Hall, 232 West Pleasant Street. Stewards of Children is the only evidence-based child sexual abuse prevention training proven effective in educating adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. This training utilizes a video, workbook, and group discussion. Light refreshments will be provided. RSVPs greatly appreciated to Jess Kaehny, Community Education Program Manager of Hope House at jessicar@hopehousescw.org or 608-356-9123.

Crisis Response Advocates
Hope House is expanding services! We are accepting applications for 2nd and 3rd shift Crisis Response Advocates. Second shift is a full time position at 30-32 hours/week, plus benefits, working 3pm-Midnight with every other Sat/Sun/Mon off work. Hourly wage is $15.50-$18.50/hour depending on experience. Third shift is a full time position at 30-32 hours/week, plus benefits, working 11pm-8am with every other Sat/Sun/Mon off work. Hourly wage is $16.25-$19.25/hour depending on experience. If you know anyone that may be interested, please direct them here.

Upcoming Empower Baraboo Advisory Committee Meetings
The next Empower Baraboo Advisory Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 15th from 6:15-7:15pm in the Baraboo High School library. We welcome all Baraboo area community members who are interested in helping to create a high school environment that is respectful, inclusive, and free of sexual harassment and assault. At this meeting, we will plan events that will engage students and staff throughout the high school community. Future meetings will also be held on the third Tuesday of each month at the same time and location: December 21st, January 17th, February 21st, March 21st, April 18th, May 16th. Questions can be directed to Prevention Project Coordinator Nola Pastor at preventcoord@hopehousescw.org or 608-356-9123.

TEENS N THEATER (TNT) Presents CUTTER on November 9 from 2:30-4 pm
A play dealing with the very real contemporary topic of self harm in the teen community
TNT, in partnership with the West Central Wisconsin Boys and Girls Club, will be premiering this play on Wednesday, November 9th in the Baraboo Civic Center gymnasium, located at 124 2nd Street in Baraboo. This performance is free and open to the public and will run from 2:30 to 4 pm. This group of courageous teens has joined together to tackle the difficult issues that face our kids on a daily basis in our ever growing complex world. Among other topics looked at by this ground breaking group are, bullying, divorce, sexual pressure, and group dynamics. TNT is bringing these issues out in the open in hopes of demonstrating better coping skills and having healing conversations. In an effort to promote this kind of dialogue, the teen actors will be facilitating a talk-back session after the show to discuss these issues and their impact on teens’ lives.

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 the following; our most needed items are bolded:

Bathrooms: Liquid hand soap, Full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner, Full-size toothpaste and toothbrushes, Full-size bottles of body wash and shaving cream, Toilet bowl cleaner, Toilet paper, Deodorant, Disposable razors, Small garbage cans with bags, Nail clippers, Cleaning supplies such as Lysol disinfecting spray, Windex, and floor cleaner, Clorox wipes, Hairspray, Bleach, Bathroom rugs
Kitchen: Paper towels, Ziploc bags, 13-Gallon garbage bags, Coffee, Blender, Strainer/Colander, Silverware, Tupperware, Dishwasher soap, Brush for cleaning bottles, Sip cups, Saran wrap, Aluminum foil
Food and Beverages: Cereal, Fruit juice, Meat, Fresh fruit and vegetables, Yogurt, Cheese, Canned soup, Snack items (crackers, granola bars, etc.), Eggs, Milk, Coffee
Laundry: Laundry detergent
Clothing for Women and Kids: New socks, especially sizes 2T-4T, New women’s underwear, New medium-large size pajamas, New pajamas and clothes for kids 9-12 months, New sweatshirts and sweatpants
Misc: Markers and glue sticks, Alarm clock, D batteries, Swiffer mop, New pillows, New full-sized fitted white sheets, Diapers (especially size 5) and pull-ups, Journals, Vacuum, Double stroller, Baby wipes, Band-Aids, Pocket-sized calendars, Baby bottles, Umbrellas, Exercise balls, 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

Sexual Assault

[Trigger Warning] After Misogynistic #TrumpTapes Leaked, Women are Sharing Stories of Their Sexual Assault: “Friday afternoon, leaked audio tape revealed Donald Trump in a crude, aggressive conversation that captured the Republican presidential nominee bragging that his celebrity status gave him special permission to grope and grab women as he pleased…some women online responded to the controversy by sharing their earliest memories of sexual assault. Author Kelly Oxford wrote, ‘Tweet me your first assaults. They aren't just stats. I'll go first: Old man on city bus grabs my 'pussy' and smiles at me, I'm 12’”…Read more
Activist Men React To ‘Locker Room Talk’: “‘You are seeing the harmful outcome of aspects of what men and boys are taught about manhood,’ Porter said. ‘That collective socialization creates unwritten rules that allow us to dismiss comments, jokes or behaviors that devalue women and girls, and through our silence, create the fertile ground where violence and discrimination against women can take root and flourish.’ Through this collective socialization, Porter says, men and boys are taught to define themselves by devaluing women and girls, often through phrases so ingrained in our culture we don’t give them a second thought: ‘You throw like a girl,’ ‘Man up,’”…Read more…Read related article: Pro Athletes Are Calling Out Trump For His So-Called “Locker Room Talk”
2 Additional Women Accuse Trump of Sexual Assault
A Cop Who’s Spent 30 Years Fighting Sexual Assault Explains Why Victims Often Wait to Come Forward: “‘Oftentimes [power and control are] purposefully leveraged during the assault and afterward, with things like, ‘Nobody is going to believe you, I’m an important person in the community,’ he says. Tremblay and I spoke Thursday afternoon about why women often wait long periods before reporting sexual assault, what law enforcement could do to better assist victims, and how the language the media uses can often disadvantaged victims”…Read more
Officer in Shooting That Sparked Milwaukee Riots Charged With Sexual Assault
A Doctor Who Treats Rape Survivors Seen As Nobel Peace Prize Contender: “45,482. That is the number of rape survivors treated by Dr. Denis Mukwege and his associates at Panzi Hospital between 1999 and 2015…‘What I'm doing really is not only to treat women — their body,’ says Mukwege, ‘[but] also to fight for their own right, to bring them to be autonomous, and, of course, to support them psychologically. And all of this is a process of healing so women can regain their dignity’”…Read more

6 Charts that Will Change How You Think about Sexual Assault in America
5 Women Accuse UW-Madison Student of Sexual Assault: “A University of Wisconsin-Madison student is accused of sexual assaulting five women and is facing at least 14 felony charges, including second-degree sexual assault and strangulation and suffocation. He has been suspended from the university. Alec Cook, 20, was first arrested this month for allegedly sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman at his apartment on Oct. 12”…Read more
NSVRC Commends Congress, President Obama for Passage of Survivors’ Bill of Rights: “Not only does this bill set standards for preserving rape kit evidence in federal sexual assault cases, this bill sets a shining example of how the rights of sexual assault survivors should be prioritized in all states as well as in federal cases. It is imperative that states join the federal government in reforming the processes and systems that all too often re-victimize survivors who are seeking justice. We must eliminate systemic obstacles to reporting and holding individuals who cause harm accountable”…Read more
Nate Parker’s ‘Birth of a Nation’ Exploits My Sister All Over Again (Guest Column): “As her sister, the thing that pains me most of all is that in retelling the story of the Nat Turner slave revolt, they invented a rape scene. The rape of Turner’s wife is used as a reason to justify Turner’s rebellion. This is fiction. I find it creepy and perverse that Parker and Celestin would put a fictional rape at the center of their film, and that Parker would portray himself as a hero avenging that rape…as the trial transcripts have come out, I have been gratified to see so many people rally to defend my sister. I know she would feel honored, as she never got that level of support in life…I will wait for a true version of this story to be told — one that respects history and does not re-exploit my sister”…Read more

Domestic Violence

Another Shocking Domestic Violence Case Is Rocking the NFL: “The league knew that there was a history of domestic violence in the Brown household. NFL security even had to be called at the Pro Bowl when Molly, who was staying in a separate room with their children, had to deal with a drunk Josh Brown trying to knock down her hotel door. That Brown only received a one-game suspension instead of the mandatory six-game suspension for domestic violence is curious. The idea that the league and the Giants, all of whom employ their own team of investigators stocked with former FBI and Secret Service agents, did not know about the extent of Brown’s abusive behavior is absurd”…Read more
The Link Between Natural Disasters and Domestic Abuse: “This exposure is just one of the concerns at the intersection of disasters and domestic abuse. After disasters occur, there is often an uptick in domestic-violence incidents. Domestic-abuse experts say this is likely because batterers often have more access to their families, because they are not at work…‘It’s very, very tempting when an abuser says, ‘Oh my house didn’t flood, you can come here and stay,’ or ‘I told you that you couldn’t make it on your own,’ says Meeks. ‘The woman’s family and friends are probably telling her, ‘You should just go back to your husband, at least his house is dry’”…Read more
An Estimated 4.5 Million Women Have Been Bullied with Guns by Abusive Partners: “An estimated 4.5 million women in the U.S. have been bullied or coerced with a firearm by an intimate partner. Another 1 million have survived a gunshot wound or been shot at. Those are the central findings of the first systematic review on the nonfatal use of firearms in domestic violence. ‘There hasn’t been much research on guns and women in the first place,’ Susan Sorenson...‘What has been conducted tends to focus on women’s deaths. This research focuses on women’s lives’”…Read more…Read related article: My Ex-Husband Used His Guns to Terrorize Me — Without Once Pulling the Trigger

Bresha Meadows: Campaigners Want 15-Year-Old Accused of 'Shooting Dead Her Abusive Father' to Walk Free: “The campaign said that 15.5 million children in the US are exposed to domestic violence each year, and of those incarcerated for self-defence, a disproportionate number are black. ‘Criminalising Bresha in this context sends a harmful message to survivors and their children—that even in the most desperate of situations, they will be punished instead of helped,’ the petition read, which has gathered support under the twitter hashtag ‘#FreeBresha’. A GoFundMe page has also raised more than $37,000 to support Bresha and her family”…Read more…Learn what you can do to help
What Women Need To Know About Reproductive Coercion: “Reproductively coercive acts include threatening to leave unless the woman becomes pregnant, threatening to have a baby with someone else if she doesn’t comply, physically abusing a woman because she does not agree to pregnancy and tampering with birth control to deliberately cause pregnancy. Forcing a woman to either carry a pregnancy to term or have an abortion against her wishes also constitutes reproductive coercion. Birth control tampering and pregnancy coercion, in particular, is the focus of McCauley’s latest research. ‘The thing about reproductive coercion is that many women still don’t recognize this behavior as abuse,’”…Read more

Children and Youth

Could a Summer Camp Stop Kids from Repeating the Violence They Saw Growing Up?: “Camp activities are specifically designed to help kids build resilience — the ability to overcome adversity and trauma — and to increase hopefulness about the future, Gwinn said. While ‘hope’ sounds like a simple, feel-good emotion, it actually works as a powerful motivational system that can help individuals achieve goals. And, it can be measured. Chan Hellman, a researcher in hope theory at the University of Oklahoma, explained a person with ‘hope’ has the ability to create a mental roadmap to reach a goal, as well as the willpower needed to overcome obstacles as they arise. ‘Hope is the foundation of resiliency,’”…Read more
New Study Finds 15 Percent of 6th Graders Commit Cyber Abuse: “According to a new study, 15 percent of sixth-grade students report they have perpetrated at least one form of abuse toward a dating partner through technology…The most common forms of cyber dating abuse were using a dating partner’s social networking account without permission and making a dating partner afraid of not responding to their partner’s calls or messages”…Read more

Miscellaneous

Human Trafficking Survivors Share 5 Ways To Help End Practice: “On Tuesday, the U.S. government released its first-ever report on human trafficking written by survivors. In the document, 11 survivors of sex and labor trafficking, who were appointed by President Obama to the first U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking in 2015, provide recommendations on how to improve federal trafficking policies ― ranging from legislation to public awareness campaigns to victims’ services”…Read more
Traffickers Likely To Prey On Kids In Haiti After Hurricane Matthew: Report: “Before Hurricane Matthew hit, underserved children in Haiti were at risk for human trafficking. The effects of the storm have now exacerbated those risks…Children of families who lost everything, and those who were separated from their parents, may get sold into forced labor and be subjected to other atrocities because they’re so vulnerable”…Read more
Facebook Relaunches Safety Center In 50 Languages To Curb Bullying And Promote Safe Sharing

If You Think Child Marriage Doesn’t Happen in the US, Think Again: “In fact, in most circumstances the young girls are not given the opportunity to freely express their wishes in private settings and away from their parents, where they can speak to a trained professional who is able to provide some guidance and assess the child’s genuine willingness. Unfortunately, most court clerks and public officials are not allowed to intervene. Laws that prevent forced marriage are limited to nine states, usually only apply to women, and exclusively prevent marriages in which a woman is married against her will. Due to the complicated nature of coercion, teenage pregnancies, and cultural values that may motivate a child marriage, it’s not always clear if a child has been ‘forced’”…Read more
Workers to Protest at McDonald's Stores across US over Sexual Harassment Claims: “Workers in more than 30 US cities are planning to join a lunchtime protest at their local McDonald’s stores on Thursday to draw attention to 15 different sexual complaints that have been filed against the company and its franchisees over the past month. The allegations, filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), claimed that in addition to experiencing sexual harassment on the job those who complained were often retaliated against”…Read more…Read related article: Workplace Sexual Harassment: A Threat To Victims, A Quandary For Bystanders

Local News

Stop Domestic Violence before It Begins: Check out Hope House’s Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month letter to the editor
Volunteers help abused, neglected kids: Click here to read about the Sauk County CASA program
Allen D. Maslowski, 59, of Lyndon Station, is charged with strangulation and suffocation – domestic abuse, false imprisonment – domestic abuse, misdemeanor battery – domestic abuse and disorderly conduct – domestic abuse…Read more
A jury found Alex E. Stolte, 22, of Reedsburg, not guilty of two counts of felony second-degree sexual assault…Read more…Read related article: Man acquitted in rape trial can have charges erased
Kyle Reilly, 37, of Columbus, charged with sexual assault after an investigation by the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office revealed that while he was an intern for the Dodge County Human Services and Health department, he engaged in a sexual relationship with a client…Read more
Matthew R. Langdon, 20, of Racine, faces charges of strangulation and suffocation and misdemeanor battery – domestic abuse, while in Juneau County…Read more
Aldo Eder Ruiz Velazquez, 24, of Sauk City, will serve eight months in jail and the next two years on probation for raping a 16 year old girl…Read more

Parents' and Youth Service Providers' Section

Watch: Child Trauma Survivors Reunite With the Adults Who Made a Difference: “To help build awareness of the importance of adults in children's lives, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Ad Council, and Futures Without Violence have teamed up to launch a campaign called Changing Minds that features emotional videos of former students reuniting with the adults who helped anchor them through difficult childhood experiences. ‘The idea behind Changing Minds is that adults who regularly interact with children (teachers, coaches, guidance counselors, nurses, social workers, etc.) can reverse the negative impact that witnessing violence has on a child's brain and increase a child's chance of success through 'everyday gestures,' like comforting, listening, and collaborating with them,’”…Read more
The Conversation You Must Have With Your Kids Today: “Offensive, objectifying, and violent language is everywhere right now—you can’t turn on a TV or even sit at a coffee shop without hearing people discussing it. And although it’s a very adult topic, your kids are listening, watching how you respond, and taking it all in. They’re also having their own conversations about it with their peers. As with any sensitive topic, parents can and should tackle the subject with their kids directly…Here are a few ways you can tackle the topic and give your kids the skills to stand up against sexist, objectifying language and behavior”…Read more
Common Sense Media's Updated Cyberbullying Toolkit: "Explore our free and updated Cyberbullying Prevention Tool Kit to find lesson plans, student activities, and additional resources that you can use to address digital drama before it happens"...Read more
The Cyberbullying Research Center is “dedicated to providing up-to-date information about the nature, extent, causes, and consequences of cyberbullying among adolescents…This web site serves as a clearinghouse of information concerning the ways adolescents use and misuse technology. It is intended to be a resource for parents, educators, law enforcement officers, counselors, and others who work with youth. Here you will find facts, figures, and detailed stories from those who have been directly impacted by online aggression. In addition, the site includes numerous resources to help you prevent and respond to cyberbullying incidents”…Check it out
Safety Central App: The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is "excited to announce the launch of a brand new safety app! Our app, Safety Central, is ideal for parents, law enforcement or anyone who is looking to stay up-to-date on the latest news, media and safety tips from NCMEC. Designed as a digital child ID kit that lets parents keep their children’s information right at their fingertips, this might be the most important app you ever download"...Read more
NetSmartz's New Spanish Resources: "Visit ES.NetSmartz.org to view our array of Spanish-language tips, games, presentations and more!"

Childhood Domestic Violence Association’s Change a Life Program: “Developed by the world’s leading researchers and endorsed by UNICEF and Children’s Mercy Hospitals, CHANGE A LIFE is the only free, evidence-based online program of its kind in the world. CHANGE A LIFE can teach you how to become The ONE for a child growing up with domestic violence – a caring adult who steps in and offers simple support and messages of hope that can foster a child’s resiliency and help change their life”…Learn more
Trauma-Sensitive Schools Learning Modules: “The Department of Public Instruction Trauma-Sensitive Schools (TSS) initiative is modeled after the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) school improvement process, focusing first on universal practices (Tier 1)”…Watch now
Talking to Your Children about Sex: Stop It Now, a national organization working to end child sexual abuse, recently released their recommended list of online resources for parents about talking to your children about sex:
- "One of our favorites is Amy Lang's site, Birds+ Bees+ Kids. Her guidance and information is spot on, with humor and a focus on positive communication. We especially love her blog, where entries, such as, "Playing Doctor - Typical and common behaviors in kids and what to do!", provide some great tips on how to know when to respond to children's exploratory play. Check out her Facebook page also!
- The Mama Bear Effect is another wonderful resource and their blog is also a well-informed and thoughtful resource. Published monthly, it offers great topics such as "5 Ways We Confuse Children About Body Safety" to help parents more effectively communicate with their kids.
- Another great option is the Sex and Sensibility blog and, while the Parents' Sex Ed Center on Advocates for Youth isn't a blog, the articles are still wonderful resources."

Faith Communities' Section
Not In Our Town’s Faith Resources: “Communities of faith play a vital role in bringing people together. Whether it is healing and responding when a hate incident occurs or hosting interfaith dialogues to address an issue of inclusion, faith leaders and congregants are part of the solution. Here you will find short films, stories, and resources that show how interfaith communities can work together to prevent hate and intolerance while building safer, more inclusive towns”…Read more

Resources

US DOJ Launches ‘Safer Families, Safer Communities’ Website to Enforce Domestic Violence Firearm Prohibition: "The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) announced the launch of the National Domestic Violence and Firearms Resource Center’s Safer Families, Safer Communities website. The website is a project of the newly-established resource center, designed to support the implementation and enforcement of domestic violence firearm prohibitions to reduce firearm-involved domestic violence and homicide. In order to address the challenges that communities face in responding to firearm-involved domestic violence, Safer Families, Safer Communities provides a comprehensive approach for attorneys, prosecutors, court personnel, judges, domestic violence service providers, law enforcement and communities at large. The website highlights the importance of an approach focused on addressing five key areas: criminal, civil, federal, purchase prevention and resources. All five areas are implicated in successfully enforcing firearms prohibitions and disarming domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms."

HOPELINE-24/7 Textline for Help: "HOPELINE, by the Center for Suicide Awareness, is a text-in (versus voice call-in) free service for help and hope. HOPELINE is the Emotional Support Text Line in the State of Wisconsin and provides service throughout the entire state. HOPELINE's purpose is to offer emotional support and resources before situations rise to crisis level. Texts received reflect struggles with breakups, job loss, bullying, LGBTQ issues, parental issues, school, friends, relationship issues or any struggle a person is experiencing"...Read more
Gender Based Violence and Intersecting Challenges Impacting Native American & Alaskan Village Communities: “The content of this collection has been selected to highlight areas of intersections impeding the safety of Native American families. Each section contains extremely unique impacts regarding sovereignty, policy, historical trauma and cultural impacts of cultural oppression or colonization. This collection is not meant to be a complete representation of all intersections of family or intimate partner violence, as it would be impossible to represent thousands of trauma-impacting factors; it is instead meant to provide a comprehensive collection of the most significant and researched resources on domestic violence and intersecting issues affecting Native and Alaskan Native people today”…Read the collection

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Lantern Lit on 10/25/16-11/1/16 for Danny Ortega, 21, of Appleton

10/25/2016

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Lantern Project: Since October 2013, Hope House has joined with other domestic violence programs around the state by implementing the Lantern Project. For our part in this statewide project, we added to the lamppost in front of Hope House a purple wreath. We will turn on the light for a week every time there is a death related to domestic violence in Wisconsin. We will post information online about the person(s) that was killed. If you drive by our building and see our lamppost on, please reflect on the deadly impact that domestic violence has on our communities. We know the list of stories we post here is incomplete. We strive to learn about and share these stories but know that there are some that we and the media miss. If you see a news story of a death in WI related to domestic violence and don't see it posted here, please feel free to let us know about it here. Thank you.

Obituary

News Story: "APPLETON, Wis. (WBAY) – Appleton Police have identified a man who shot his brother before taking his own life Saturday night.Police say the shooter was Danny Ortega, 21, Appleton. Officers are waiting for results of an autopsy completed Monday morning. The police department calls it a 'tragic domestic violence incident.' Officials say a lengthy verbal argument between Ortega and his brother led to the 21-year-old shooting his 24-year-old brother in the leg. The two lived together at a home in the 800 block of N. Oneida Street. Ortega’s brother fled the home after being shot. Police say Ortega then shot himself with the same weapon. The self-inflicted gunshot was witnessed by a family member.
Ortega was pronounced dead at the hospital. His brother was treated but has since been released from the hospital"...Read more

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Lantern Lit on 10/12/16-10/19/16 for Linda Kline, 53, of Prairie du Chien

10/12/2016

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Linda Munz-Kline

Obituary: "Linda L. Munz-Kline age 53 of Prairie du Chien passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at her home. She was born October 15, 1962 in Prairie du Chien the daughter of Francis and Colleen (Douglas) Munz. Linda attended West Grant High School and later graduated from Southwest Technical School with a degree in accounting. She was most recently working as an over the road truck driver for Swift Transportation. She enjoyed shooting pool and riding motorcycles. She is survived by her children, John and Steven Gates both of Monona, IA, David (Danielle) Gates of Highland, WI, Ross Travis (Maria) Schilgen and Michael Munz both of Prairie du Chien, Stephanie (Andrew) Kenning of St. Cloud, MN, Her mother Colleen Munz of Prairie du Chien, her sister Michelle (Holly) Little and her brother Dennis Munz and his partner all of Prairie du Chien, 15 grandchildren, aunts and uncles; Sally Laidig, Randy Hahn and Jerry (Kathy) Fennel. She was preceded in death by her father.A memorial service will be Saturday, October 15, 2016 at 10:00 AM at the Garrity Funeral Home Chapel in Prairie du Chien with Rev. James Weighner officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home from 9:00 AM until the time of services A private family inurnment will be later."

News Story: "A Georgia man faces an intentional homicide charge in the Wednesday death of his girlfriend in the Crawford County town of Bridgeport.Authorities found Linda Kline, 53, dead outside her house on Velvet Lane about 12:20 a.m., according to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department. Her sister and boyfriend Jimmy McDaniel, 48, also were at the house. Police arrested McDaniel Thursday at a Prairie du Chien hotel while he was waiting for a ride to the La Crosse Regional Airport for a flight back to Georgia, according to the department. Prosecutors are expected to file charges next week."

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Lantern Lit on 10/4/16-10/11/16 for Nya Hammond, 17, of Milwaukee and Alexandra “Sandy” Marifke, 75, of Racine

10/4/2016

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Nya Hammond

“GLENDALE -- Glendale police say a 21-year-old Milwaukee man has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old woman. The victim has been identified as Nya Hammond of Milwaukee. FOX6 News has learned Hammond was on her way to work when she was shot and killed. Hammond's body was discovered in a parking lot in the 400 block of River Woods Parkway in Glendale around 5:30 a.m. on Monday, September 26th. FOX6's Myra Sanchick spoke with Hammond's mother on Wednesday, September 28th -- who described her daughter as a dedicated mother to her three-year-old son, PJ and a hard worker -- getting up at 5:00 a.m. to clean the Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin in the River Woods Parkway in Glendale. On Monday, Hammond was on her way to work when her mother says she collapsed at the front door and died after she was shot. Hammond's mother told FOX6 News the 21-year-old man who has been arrested in this case is the father of Hammond's child. Hammond's mother said Hammond left the man earlier in September due to domestic violence. ‘She kind of kept it quiet because I guess she didn`t want to feel ashamed or want us to think we were ashamed of her or you`re stupid for going back with him,’ Hammond's mother, Shalonda Hammond said”…Read more

Alexandra "Sandy" Marifke

Obituary: “Alexandra M. Marifke, ‘Sandy,’ 75, of Augusta, Wisconsin, passed away at her home on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016. Alexandra Mary Marifke, daughter of Raymond and Cecilia (Koralewski) Bonczkowski, was born July 27, 1941, in Milwaukee. She was raised in Milwaukee, where she was baptized and received her First Communion at St. Veronica’s Catholic Church in Milwaukee. She attended St. Veronica’s Grade School and graduated from Bay View High School. Sandy went on to attend Marquette University and also worked in the registration office at the university until 1967. She then took a position in the accounting office of DePaul Rehabilitation Hospital for alcohol and other drug addiction. On June 18, 1966, she was united in marriage to Edward Marifke at Gesu Catholic Church in Milwaukee. The couple lived in Milwaukee until 1967, when they moved to Wind Lake, Wisconsin. After her marriage she and her mother-in-law operated the Marifke’s Green House in Wind Lake for over 20 years. Sandy also worked as an LPN with in-home health care agencies in the Wind Lake area. Through the years Eddie and Sandy vacationed on their land just east of Augusta, and permanently moved there in September of 1999. Throughout her life Sandy had always enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially in the Augusta area. She was thrilled to be able to still take her 90-plus-year-old mother out fishing on opening weekend. She also enjoyed photography, knitting and crocheting. While in Augusta she looked forward to her daily coffee clutches with friends, working of the election board for Bridge Creek Township, and attending Grace Lutheran Church. Sandy was a generous soul who gave of herself in so many simple ways without wanting anything in return. She had a kind and giving heart, and if you were her friend, you knew true friendship. She will be dearly missed”…Read more

News Story: “A 73-year-old Racine man is being held on a $500,000 cash bail for first-degree intentional homicide in connection with the strangulation and stabbing death of his sister in the town of Bridge Creek. The woman, Alexandra ‘Sandy’ Marifke, 75, was killed over the weekend at her residence at E23695 Highway M”…Read more

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October 2016 Community Education E-bulletin

10/1/2016

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Welcome to the October 2016 edition of Hope House's Community Education E-bulletin!

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
2. Empower Baraboo Advisory Committee Meeting
3. Hope House Donation Needs
4. WI's 2015 Domestic Violence Homicide Report
5. Domestic Violence

6. Sexual Assault
7. Children & Youth
8. Miscellaneous News
9. Local News
10. Parents' & Youth Service Providers' Section

Pictured here are Hope House staff and volunteers getting ready to walk in the Tournament of Chips Parade during Cow Chip in Sauk Prairie on September 3. They were promoting the new Sauk County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Program! If you are interested in learning more about becoming a CASA volunteer, email Mary Jo at Hope House at mjelert@hopehousescw.org, call 608-356-9123, or visit www.saukcountycasa.org.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

There are several ways you can get involved with Domestic Violence Awareness Month:

October 6 in Spring Green: “Diggin for Hope” Domestic Violence Awareness Month Homecoming Volleyball Match at River Valley High School
October 11 in Wisconsin Dells: Supporting Families Affected by Violence: A Community Resources Luncheon
National Campaigns and Events:
- The National Network to End Domestic Violence is sponsoring #31is31, 31 pieces of information they share for each day of the month. This year's theme is busting prevalent myths. They are also promoting their National Week of Action on October 16-22, including Conversation Sunday, Media Monday, Tie-in Tuesday, Write-In Wednesday, #PurpleThursday, Film Friday, and Shout-Out Saturday. Please join Hope House and several of our community partners in wearing purple on Thursday, October 20.
- The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence is sponsoring a #ThisIsDV and #WhyICare campaign and webinars on self-care and girls for gender equity.

Learn more about Domestic Violence Awareness Month on our page. We'll continue to add more resources as we receive them.

Join Us for This Year’s First Empower Baraboo Advisory Committee Meeting!
As the 2016-2017 school year starts, Hope House is excited to continue implementing our Rape Prevention & Education grant focused on sexual violence prevention at Baraboo High School. Through this grant, we will be working to address the following four risk factors for sexual violence: hypersexualization of youth, a culture that glorifies violence, gender-based and homophobic harassment, and sexual entitlement and misconceptions around consent.

As with last year, we will be guided in this process by the Empower Baraboo Advisory Committee, a group of passionate BHS students, staff, and other community members working together to create a safer, healthier, and happier school for everyone. Our first meeting will take place on Monday, October 17th from 6:15-7:15pm at East Elementary School in the Professional Development Room. If you’re interested in joining the committee but can’t make this meeting, or if you have any other questions about the grant, please contact our new Prevention Project Coordinator Nola Pastor at 608-356-9123 or preventcoord@hopehousescw.org.

Bathrooms: Liquid hand soap, Full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner, Full-size toothpaste and toothbrushes, Full-size bottles of body wash and shaving cream, Toilet bowl cleaner, Toilet paper, Deodorant, Disposable razors, Small garbage cans with bags, Nail clippers, Cleaning supplies such as Lysol disinfecting spray, Windex, and floor cleaner, Clorox wipes, Hairspray, Bleach, Bathroom rugs
Kitchen: Paper towels, Ziploc bags, 13-Gallon garbage bags, Coffee, Blender, Strainer/Colander, Silverware, Tupperware, Dishwasher soap, Brush for cleaning bottles, Sip cups, Saran wrap, Aluminum foil
Food and Beverages: Cereal, Fruit juice, Meat, Fresh fruit and vegetables, Yogurt, Cheese, Canned soup, Snack items (crackers, granola bars, etc.), Eggs, Milk, Coffee
Laundry: Laundry detergent
Clothing for Women and Kids: New socks, New women’s underwear, New medium-large size pajamas, New sweatshirts and sweatpants,
Misc: Alarm clock, D batteries, Swiffer mop, New pillows, New full-sized fitted white sheets, Diapers (especially size 5) and pull-ups, Journals, Vacuum, Double stroller, Baby wipes, Band-Aids, Pocket-sized calendars, Baby bottles, Umbrellas, Exercise balls, Relaxation CDs, Baby thermometer, CD players, Regular light bulbs

Wisconsin's 2015 Domestic Violence Homicide Report

2015 Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report Released: “At least 58 people lost their lives because of domestic violence in Wisconsin in 2015. This is just one of the grim statistics included in the 2015 Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report, released by End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin on Monday...In addition to 48 domestic violence homicide deaths, nine domestic abuse perpetrators committed suicide and one individual was killed by law enforcement as he held a knife to the neck of his estranged wife. End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin has released the homicide report annually since 2000. The 2015 numbers are some of the highest on record. The organization indicates that a preliminary count of 2016 domestic violence homicides is also significantly elevated…
Victims reflected the span of life, from 2 months old to 92 years old. The average age of victims was 37 years old. Perpetrators ranged in age from 14 to 66. The average age for perpetrators was 41 years old. In 2015, homicides were committed in 21 separate counties in Wisconsin. About 57% of the homicide incidents occurred in urban areas, and roughly 43% happened in rural communities. Consistent with the findings throughout this report’s history, firearms remain the most common means of perpetrating domestic violence homicides. In 2015, firearms were the weapons used in half of the domestic violence homicide incidents, excluding the one homicide by legal intervention"...Read the report here

Domestic Violence

Why Domestic Violence Is an Economic Issue: “In Pennsylvania, for example, there are two measures on the table: One, a move to remove all cancellation fees for abuse victims who have to abruptly leave their cell-phone contracts, and give them a new phone number if requested. Two, a move to allow women who are being abused to terminate their leases without penalty. Those seem like small things, maybe even trivial—but if your abuser still has access to your phone, he may be able to see whom you’re calling, or even use your GPS to find you, making stalking more possible. And you can’t ‘just leave’ if breaking your lease will damage your credit and make it impossible for you to rent your next home and begin to rebuild your life”…Read more
How Domestic Violence In One Home Affects Every Child In A Class: “'Kids who witness domestic violence are more likely to get in trouble at school and have behavioral problems, including being aggressive and bullying their classmates. Welch says she understands why: School is 'where they can feel powerful because they are completely powerless at home.' She often works with those kids one-on-one or in small groups. She wants them to have at least one relationship where 'they feel listened to and they feel respected and they know someone cares. That can change everything for them'"…Read more

Violence Against Women, The Wage Gap And Homelessness: “Between 22 percent and 57 percent of homeless women, depending on the jurisdiction, cite domestic violence and financial vulnerability as the reason they are homeless. One study found that 46 percent of homeless women said that having nowhere to go, and no way to support themselves and their children, meant they stayed in violent relationships. At least 50 percent of US states cite domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, in Massachusetts, for example, 92 percent of homeless women surveyed had been severely assaulted at some point in their lives: of those, 63 percent had been physically or sexually assaulted by an intimate partner”…Read more
He Kidnapped, Beat And Tortured His Wife. Free On Bond, He Killed Her: “District Attorney Eugene Vittone, who called Tierne’s murder a possibly ‘preventable tragedy,’ told The Huffington Post that he has begun an investigation into what went wrong. ‘We are trying to get all the facts and see where the system may be improved,’ he said. ‘We probably need to take a look at how we address bail in these types of cases.’ While it’s impossible to predict every domestic violence case that turns lethal, experts believe that there are critical warning signs that can indicate when a case is especially dangerous and needs special monitoring”…Read more

Sexual Assault

Netflix's Audrie & Daisy Tackles Sexual Assault – and Surviving Assault – in the Age of Social Media: “Even though the two lived across the country form each other, their assault cases had many similarities and occurred within eight months of each other. Coleman also tried to kill herself after her alleged assault, like Pott, but was unsuccessful…Shenk says the filmmakers hope they can ‘help provide a framework’ for conversation and education on sexual assault. To that end, he and Cohen have partnered with multiple organizations including the non-profit Futures Without Violence, which developed discussion guides for the film”…Read more
Emma Watson Speaks Out About Campus Sexual Assault At U.N.: “‘A university should be a place of refuge that takes action against all forms of violence,’ Watson said. ‘That’s why, we believe, that students should leave university believing in, striving for, and expecting societies of true equality…in every sense and that universities have the power to be a vital catalyst for that change.’ Watch her remarks.”
When Detectives Dismiss Rape Reports Before Investigating Them: “The Baltimore County Police Department is one of a number of law enforcement agencies nationwide with an alarming record of dismissing rape cases, according to a BuzzFeed News analysis of FBI statistics. These departments routinely mark an extraordinary percentage of rape allegations as false or baseless — ‘unfounded’”…Read more
UNC Student Claims Cops ‘Laughed’ at Her Rape by Football Player: “‘Despite her cooperation [with police] and strong physical evidence, no action has been taken against the student who raped her,’”…Read more
Sexual Assault Survivors Are Using #IHaveTheRightTo as a Way to Reclaim Their Power: “Chessy Prout is one of those survivors. Her story made national headlines last year when Labrie, her alleged rapist, was found not guilty of felony sexual assault. Now Prout is talking a stand for survivors everywhere. She partnered with PAVE, a nonprofit focused on sexual violence, for the #IHaveTheRightTo social media campaign. Here's how Prout explains it: #IHaveTheRightTo find my voice and to use it when I am ready. #IHaveTheRightTo be called a survivor, not an 'alleged victim' or 'accuser.' #IHaveTheRightTo spend time with someone and be safe. #IHaveTheRightTo say NO and be HEARD. #IHaveTheRight to not be shamed and bullied into silence. #IHaveTheRightTo not be isolated by the crime against me or by people who want to shame me. #IHaveTheRightTo name what happened to me because being sexually assaulted is never excusable or 'complicated.' There is no perfect victim. #IHaveTheRightTo be happy, sad, upset, angry, and inspired anytime during the process of my healing without being judged. But most importantly, #IHaveTheRightTo stand with you. Hundreds of people have rallied behind Prout by using the hashtag on Twitter. Here are just a few examples”…Read more

7 Ways Bartenders Can Prevent Sexual Harassment and Assault: “Alcohol does not cause rape, but it’s often involved, and if bar owners do not actively work to mitigate the role that we inadvertently play as purveyors, then we become part of the problem. To, instead, be part of the solution, there are practical steps that bartenders, owners and managers can take to help reduce the risk of sexual assault in your establishments”…Read more
Federal Sexual Violence Stats Sow Confusion: “The problem: Federal sexual violence statistics are confusing. ‘Rape is rape’ makes a good protest sign, but it doesn’t begin to explain the ways the federal government classifies these violent acts. Four agencies manage 10 data collections that use 23 different terms to describe sexual violence, according to a Government Accountability Office report, which said the collections ‘rarely use the same terminology to describe sexual violence’…‘Whatever numbers we have,’ she said, ‘we know that sexual assault is a very serious problem across the country’”…Read more
How Janitors Banded Together to Fight Rape on the Night Shift: “The legislation, which was inspired by our Rape on the Night Shift investigation, will create a registry of janitorial firms in California, which worker advocates say makes it easier to hold problematic companies accountable for violations ranging from wage theft to sexual assault. It will also require sexual harassment training for everyone who works at a janitorial company”…Read more
We All Know A Brock Turner: “We picture rapists as strangers attacking women who walk alone at night. But that’s probably the least common scenario. Most of us don’t recognize rapists as manipulative boyfriends, drunk classmates at parties, or over-entitled guys who think they can coerce their way out of the ‘friend zone.’ We ignore them, make excuses for them, or even egg them on. That’s how Brock became ‘Brock Turner’”…Read more
Martha Stewart Served More Jail Time than Stanford's Brock Turner: “Here’s a look at people who served or were sentenced longer jail time"…Read more
Historic Bill Of Rights For Survivors Of Sexual Assault Is Heading To Obama’s Desk: “The legislation primarily deals with the treatment of rape kits, the two-to four-hour medical forensic exams survivors of sexual assault undergo to help gather evidence, including the DNA of the assailant. The bill specifies that survivors not be prevented from receiving the kit or charged for the procedure and that they be informed of the test results. Evidence gathered during the process must also be preserved for around 20 years. The bill also requires that the survivor be notified at least two months before their kit is scheduled to be destroyed and allows for them to ask for it to be preserved with a simple email”…Read more
She Was Raped During Study Abroad. Then Her School Said She Couldn’t Talk About It.: “She filed two federal complaints against St. Scholastica this summer, alleging that the school had mishandled her sexual assault case ― something she says she might not have done if she’d been allowed to talk to other students about her experience. In the complaints, Franklin claims the school failed to inform her about her rights and available resources, didn’t help her communicate with Irish police, and took months to respond to her requests for assistance…Read more…Read related article: Michigan High School Suspended Student who Reported Sexual Assault

Children & Youth

Seven-Year-Old’s Open Letter to Party City: Girls Need Career Halloween Costumes: “While shopping for her costume choice this year -- a cop -- Shaelyn noticed something. The boy cop costume came with pants, while the girl one was a dress. This prompted Shaelyn to write an open letter to the company, her mom said. ‘I think you need more simple costumes like a fire fighter and a police in pants for the girls,’ Shaelyn offers in the letter, which her mom posted to Facebok. ‘Maybe the career costumes should have a section by themselves, and not be labeled boy and girl’”…Read more
US Teens Often Forced to Trade Sex Work for Food, Study Finds: “Their testimony paints a picture of teenagers – often overlooked by policymakers focused on children aged zero to five – missing meals, making sacrifices and going hungry, with worrying long-term consequences…In seven of the 10 communities, teenagers told stories of girls exchanging sexual favours with strangers or stripping for money in abandoned houses, at flea markets and on the street”…Read more

Jacobs Memory and Hope Patty Wetterling, a Mother’s Legacy: “Her activism slowly grew out of the tragedy of her son Jacob’s abduction on October 22, 1989. The search for Jacob lasted nearly 27 years along with the families, and so many others, firm hope that Jacob was alive. That reality shifted when Jacobs remains were identified. On September, 6, 2016, Danny Heinrich plead guilty to a child pornography charge while also admitting, with horrifying detail, how he had kidnapped, sexually assaulted and murdered Jacob. He buried Jacob’s body in Paynesville, MN which is near the same small town where he had kidnapped and sexually assaulted another boy, Jared Scheierl. While not admitting to more crimes, there were other boys about the same age, about the same time, approached and assaulted in a similar way. How many of us in Patty Wetterling’ s place could have emerged from such agony to becoming a beacon of hope for so many families, the media, law enforcement, victim advocates and sex offender therapists and researchers?”…Read more…Read related articles: Op-Ed from Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers and On Being a Voice for Prevention: Thanks to Patty Wetterling…Want to remember and honor Jacob? Be part of the #11forJacob movement or join the #CreateJoy movement

Miscellaneous News

Take The ACE Quiz — And Learn What It Does And Doesn't Mean: “An ACE score is a tally of different types of abuse, neglect, and other hallmarks of a rough childhood. According to the Adverse Childhood Experiences study, the rougher your childhood, the higher your score is likely to be and the higher your risk for later health problems…ACE scores don't tally the positive experiences in early life that can help build resilience and protect a child from the effects of trauma. Having a grandparent who loves you, a teacher who understands and believes in you, or a trusted friend you can confide in may mitigate the long-term effects of early trauma, psychologists say.…Read more and take the survey

What Exactly is a Microaggression? Let These Examples from Hollywood Movies Explain: “A microaggression can be rooted in racism, sexism, or discrimination based on nationality or sexual orientation. It can be delivered casually or even unconsciously. And it can unleash effects that add up over time. So what exactly is a microaggression? Watch our video, and let Hollywood teach us the ways”…Watch video
Twenty-two Years of Progress with the Violence Against Women Act: “We’ve provided more resources — rape crisis centers and forensic nurses and examiners are in nearly every major city in America, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline has been used by more than 4 million women and men. We’ve reauthorized VAWA three times over the years — expanding protections to Native American women, immigrants, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans, and victims in public housing”…Read more
September was Suicide Prevention Month: Click here to view resources from the National Child Stress Traumatic Stress Network for educators, parents, youth, mental health professionals, law enforcement, and more.

Local News

Michael S. Huebsch, 35, of Baraboo, charged with repeated sexual assault of a child and second degree sexual assault of a child…Read more
Chad S. Brest, 35, of New Lisbon, faces strangulation and suffocation charges and a count of child abuse, among other charges…Read more
Enos Bontrager, 48, of Friesland, is charged with four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 years old, two counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child, and one count of sexual assault of a child under 16…Read more
Tyler A. Sauter, 31, of Necedah, is charged with stalking resulting in bodily harm, burglary of a dwelling, misdemeanor battery, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct – domestic abuse…Read more
Poverty in Juneau County: 47 percent of families have trouble making ends meet

Parents' & Youth Service Providers' Section

New White House Guidance on Responding to Sexual Assault in K-12 Schools: “Today, the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault released a document titled, 'Considerations for School District Sexual Misconduct Policies'. The document provides guidance and encourages K-12 school districts to develop sexual misconduct policies with input from key stakeholders including rape crisis centers. The release of the document also serves as a reminder to K-12 school districts of their ongoing obligations under Title IX. Highlighted in the document are elements for school districts to consider when crafting sexual misconduct policies and these elements include prevention, education and training. Additionally, the Department of Education released the 'Safe Place to Learn' online resource package for administrative leadership and school staff that focuses specifically on prevention, intervention and response to peer-to-peer sexual harassment in schools”…Read more
Stewards of Children® Prevention Toolkit App: "Darkness to Light, in partnership with The World Childhood Foundation and telecommunications leader Ericsson, is excited to launch the Stewards of Children® Prevention Toolkit mobile app. This tool is the first-of-its kind mobile application that contains videos, quizzes, and links to relevant resources for preventing child sexual abuse, including the link to the Stewards of Children® online training. The app also includes information on how to report and seek help after a disclosure of sexual abuse has been made... Download the app from iTunes or for Anroid."

From Teasing to Torment: School Climate Revisited, A Survey of U.S. Secondary School Students and Teachers “provides an in-depth look at the current landscape of bias and peer victimization as reported by students and teachers from across the nation. In addition to examining various types of bias, including those based on race/ethnicity, religion, body size, and ability, this report provides a focused look at LGBTQ issues in secondary schools. Comparing findings to a similar survey we conducted in 2005, the report discusses the progress that has been made over the past ten years, as well as highlights the challenges that remain. It also offers recommendations and strategies to improve school climate for all students”…Read more
Infographic about Sexual Minority Youth Data: Check out this new infographic from the CDC on how lesbian, gay, and bisexual teens are reporting experiencing more violence and what you can do about it.
Kids Against Bullying Classroom Activity Book: "A new resource is the Kids Against Bullying Classroom Activity Book, which is available to download for free. This eight-page activity book features the characters of the Club Crew, a diverse group that’s featured on PACER’s Kids Against Bullying website. The book encourages students to navigate the website and provides activities to help students think about their feelings, explore responses to bullying situations, and take the pledge to be a Kid Against Bullying. It is available to print in full color or black and white. Download the activity book."

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November 2016 Community Education E-bulletin

Lantern Lit on 10/25/16-11/1/16 for Danny Ortega, 21, of Appleton

Lantern Lit on 10/12/16-10/19/16 for Linda Kline, 53, of Prairie du Chien

Lantern Lit on 10/4/16-10/11/16 for Nya Hammond, 17, of Milwaukee and Alexandra “Sandy” Marifke, 75, of Racine

October 2016 Community Education E-bulletin

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