Obituary: "Theresa C. Coates, age 47, of Wisconsin Rapids, WI died Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at Ministry St. Joseph Hospital, Marshfield, WI.

Theresa was born July 30, 1968 in Marshfield, WI to William and Janet (Ashbeck) Fruin. She married Douglas Coates on December 30, 1998 in Port Edwards, WI. He died October 25, 2013. Theresa was employed at Golden County Foods and later at NAPA Auto Parts in Wisconsin Rapids"...Read more

News Story: "Juneau County authorities contacted Wood County at about 9:45 p.m. Monday and asked that police check on a 17-year-old boy who made suicidal threats and was on his way to Saratoga, according to Wood County reports.

Deputies arrived at a home at 6010 Church Ave. at about 10 p.m. and learned that two people at that address had been shot, according to a news release issued Tuesday morning by the sheriff’s department. Helicopters took two patients from the scene to a hospital, where a female was pronounced dead and a male remained hospitalized Tuesday, Wood County Sheriff Thomas Reichert said.

The Church Avenue property is owned by Theresa Coates, according to public records, and she lives there with two daughters, according to neighbor Bruce Dimick.

Wood County court records show that Coates’ 17-year-old daughter and the 17-year-old suicidal boy, whose names Gannett Central Wisconsin Media learned, were accused in January of taking Coates’ car and disappearing for two days. Officers found the teens in Nebraska when the vehicle got a flat tire, according to court records"...Read more

There is no obituary posted at this time. If we become aware of one, we will post it here.

News Story: "(Muscoda, WI - WKOW)  --  Muscoda police are releasing details of a domestic abuse call from Saturday that ended in what they say is an apparent suicide. Officers arrived at the scene at 317 W. River Road early in the evening to find 63-year-old Candice Carr bound with duct tape. She'd also been severely beaten.
Carr told officers the she and her boyfriend, David Friese, 61, also of Muscoda - which is in Grant County in southwestern Wisconsin, had gotten into a verbal argument that quickly turned physical. She told police he'd hit her several times with an aluminum bat and when she tried to fight back, he tied her up with duct tape and continued hitting her. 

Investigators say the assault went on for several minutes and ended when Friese took his own life with a 12-gauge shotgun. Carr was able to free herself and called 911"...Read more

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

New Prevention Project Coordinator Position Opening
We are excited to announce a new position opening at Hope House, the Prevention Project Coordinator.  Please help us spread the word to anyone that may be interested in making a difference by working to bring about social change and healthier communities.  The job posting and description can be found by going to our Career Opportunities page.

Upcoming Events
Be sure to check Hope House's Events page to learn more about upcoming community safety events and a workshop on understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences.

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

Local News

• A New Lisbon woman charged for punching and choking her daughter who is paralyzed from the chest down...Read more
• Sean Larson, 24, Lodi, has been charged with repeated sexual assault of a child…Read more
  
• Christopher Richardson, 42, of rural Rio, threatened to kill his girlfriend and has died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound…Read more
• Gregory Heep Jr., 28, of Wisconsin Dells, entered a plea of no contest to charges of possession of child pornography…Read more
• Richard Delaney, 59, formerly of Juneau County, faces several charges, including two counts of sexual assault of a child…Read more
• Jacob Pelanek, 22, of Wisconsin Dells, charged with first-degree child sex assault…Read more
  

Parents' & Youth Service Providers' Section

• The Mask You Live In Curriculum Sneak Peek: “To show our gratitude, we wanted to share a special sneak peek of The Mask You Live In curriculum video, “Masculinity in Popular Culture” that explores how masculinity is represented in media. This summer, watch the video with a young person in your life and complete the accompanying activity.”
• Kids Media App: Common Sense Media’s Kids Media App has “the latest movie reviews, plus recommendations for great books, apps, games, and more – customized for your kids”…Check it out here
• PACER's Bullying 101: Guide for Middle and High School Students: "This highly visual, age-appropriate guide provides students with the basics for talking with other students about what bullying is and isn’t, the roles of students, and tips on what students can do to address bullying situations. Published by PACER’S National Bullying Prevention Center, this 14-page guide is available online as a free download."
• Safe Spaces. Safe Places: Creating Welcoming and Inclusive Environments for Traumatized LGBTQ Youth: This online video from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network is for adults who work with youth, parents, and community members. There is a link to a video resource guide and information on LGBTQ Issues and Child Trauma.
• KIDS COUNT Data Book: "The Annie E. Casey Foundation has released the 2015 KIDS COUNT Data Book that shows Wisconsin's children rank 13th overall on their selected measures of child well-being.  This is good news and reflects the results from investments we have made in the past in education, employment, and family supports. But the news is not so good for everyone. The rate of growth of children in poverty in Wisconsin is greater than the rate of growth nationally. The economic recovery has not hit all parts of our state or our families and children equally.  In fact, children of color in Wisconsin are falling further and further behind their white peers - and disparities between white and black children are greater than anywhere in the nation. There are solutions - we can work together to support families and children by making investments and decisions that have long-term benefits and can move us to the top of the list."
  

Resources
The Path to Resilience: "As the latest science from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard shows, resilience is fluid and compounding, nurtured by the essential fertilizer of an adult’s caring attention. A new three-part video series produced by the center explores — in clear and simple terms — exactly how that happens, answering questions about why some children who face serious problems can cope and thrive"...Read more and watch the videos

The Sexual Assault Support & Help for Americans Abroad Program, SASHAA, "has launched a new resource to assist American citizens and legal permanent residents who are sexually assaulted in a foreign country while studying or traveling overseas...SASHAA case managers provide an informed, compassionate response, as well as advocacy and assistance navigating medical, law enforcement and legal options.  This support is continued long term, including counseling and other services. The program can be reached 24/7 from overseas by calling an international toll free hotline, 866-USWOMEN, via the AT&T Direct Access code for each country. Instructions can be found on the SASHAA website, www.sashaa.org. Other forms of communication include a live chat feature on the SASHAA website, and a crisis email: crisis@866uswomen.org. If the caller is more comfortable communicating in a foreign language, SASHAA advocates and case managers have access to a language bank."

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

In Memory of Tracie McClung of Lake Wisconsin
Hope House would like to express condolences to the friends and family of Tracie McClung, who lost her battle to cancer in May. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials were asked to be given to Hope House. We are very grateful to those who made donations to Hope House in her memory. Thank you!

Help Us Acquire New Playground Equipment
Please consider making a donation to Hope House to help us purchase this fun, safe, new playground equipment for the courtyard at our shelter. Miller & Associates have generously given Hope House a discount, but we need your help to raise the funds. Donations can be mailed to Hope House, attn: Playground Equipment Fund, P.O. Box 557, Baraboo, WI 53913 or donate online here.  

Thanks to P.E.O. Sisterhood’s Baraboo Chapter
The Baraboo News Republic recently featured the volunteer work of the P.E.O. Sisterhood’s Baraboo Chapter at Hope House. 

"The women have helped in the residential facility’s garden, worked to beautify its front yard and courtyard, and donated Adirondack chairs and two Aldo Leopold benches made by Bowar’s husband, Dave Murphy. Bowar said the women hope to raise sufficient funds to purchase some items off the facility’s wish list, such as a washer and dryer. The women also held a shower this spring for the Baraboo live-in clients and their children" Read the article here. 

Many thanks to the P.E.O Chapter and all our volunteers!

Free Health & Wellness Groups in Mauston and Adams
Hope House is offering free health and wellness groups at the Mauston Public Library and the Adams County Community Center. These groups teach healthy, alternative methods to reduce stress and help connect participants with supportive people in the community. For more information or to sign up to attend, call 1-800-584-6790 or email OutreachAdvocate@HopeHouseSCW.org.

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: 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, Sweatshirts and sweatpants
• Misc: 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, New twin bed sheets

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.

Children & Youth

• Sex Ed That Turns Boys into Men: “A program in Canada gives adolescent boys the space to explore big ideas like masculinity, gender, and power — with fascinating results”…Read more
  
• High Schools and Middle Schools Are Failing Victims of Sexual Assault: “Secondary school educators are unsure and ill-trained when it comes to handling allegations that one student has assaulted another, which they are legally required to report to the police. Once accusations are made, survivors at times continue to face harassment and victim-blaming among their peers, which some victims say is even worse than the assault itself”…Read more
• 1 in 3 Teen Boys Sexually Assaulted Tries Suicide, Study Finds: “Teen boys who have been a victim of sexual assault are likelier to attempt suicide, a new study says. University at Buffalo researchers analysed data from more than 31,000 American teens, aged 14 to 18, who took part in surveys in 2009 and 2011. Among healthy-weight boys, 3.5 percent of those with no history of sexual assault attempted suicide within the past year, compared with more than 33 percent of those who had been sexually assaulted, the investigators found”…Read more
  
• What’s Lurking Behind the Suicides?: “Since December, nine people between the ages of 12 and 24 have committed suicide on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation — home to Crazy Horse’s Oglala band of the Lakota — in southwestern South Dakota. They come to Pine Ridge every few years, these suicide epidemics, with varying degrees of national media attention and local soul-searching. What the news media often misses though, and what tribal members understand but rarely discuss above a whisper, is that youth suicides here are inextricably linked to a multigenerational scourge of sexual abuse, with investigations into possible abuse now open in at least two of the nine recent suicides”…Read more
• Healthy Relationships May Prevent Depression in Child Abuse Survivors: “Researchers followed a group of 485 young adults in Rochester, New York, for 12 years to see how exposure to neglect or maltreatment during childhood would influence their ability to have satisfying relationships with intimate partners and their susceptibility to depression. ‘In our sample, we do not find evidence that maltreatment reduces the likelihood that an individual will be in a stable, satisfying intimate partner relationship’”…Read more
  
• Teens, Social Media & Technology Overview 2015: “Aided by the convenience and constant access provided by mobile devices, especially smartphones, 92% of teens report going online daily — including 24% who say they go online 'almost constantly,' according to a new study from Pew Research Center…Nearly three-quarters of teens have or have access to a smartphone and 30% have a basic phone, while just 12% of teens 13 to 17 say they have no cell phone of any type…Facebook remains the most used social media site among American teens ages 13 to 17 with 71% of all teens using the site, even as half of teens use Instagram and four-in-ten use Snapchat”…Read more

Miscellaneous

• Masculinity Gets a Modern Makeover in Getty Images' Newest Stock Art Collection: “Stock photography is everywhere, and a lot of it reinforces traditional gender roles. But Getty Images partnered with Sheryl Sandberg's LeanIn.org last year to change that by creating a collection of 2,500 images showing women in more empowering ways. The collection, which has since doubled in size, turned out to be a success, according to Getty, with sales also doubling since the launch. Now, ahead of Father's Day and following the launch of Sandberg's 'Lean In Together' campaign earlier this year, Getty Images has curated another collection, this time offering images that redefine representations of masculinity”…Read more
  

Local News

• Devyn Garcia, 20, of North Freedom, charged with repeated sexual assault of a teen girl...Read more
  
• Michael Powell, of Portage, sentenced to 8 years probation for sexually assaulting a 30-year-old woman with significant cognitive impairment...Read more
• Steven Rist, 43, of Columbus, charged with sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl...Read more
  

Parents' & Youth Service Providers' Section

Resources
Preventing and Responding to Domestic and Sexual Violence in Later Life: "In observance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15, 2015), the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence is pleased to share this updated Special Collection. By focusing specifically on domestic and sexual violence (DV/SV) in later life, this special collection highlights the complexities of older people's DV/SV experiences and emphasizes collaborative and multi-pronged approaches to addressing DV/SV in later life."

Suicide Prevention App for Health Care Providers Free from SAMHSA: “Suicide Safe, SAMHSA's new suicide prevention app for mobile devices and tablets, helps providers integrate suicide prevention strategies into their practice and address suicide risk among their patients. Based on SAMHSA's Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage (SAFE-T) card, Suicide Safe helps providers: (1) use the SAFE-T approach with patients; (2) explore interactive case study examples; (3) quickly access and share information, including crisis lines, fact sheets, educational opportunities, and treatment resources; (4) browse conversation starters, sample language, and tips for talking with patients; and (5) identify treatment options, locations, resources, and referrals.”


YWCA Racial Justice Resources: The YWCA in Madison has created a webpage with various racial justice resources that you can use to create change individually—through personal learning, education & action; interpersonally—through discussion & actions with family, friends, and groups that you are connected to; institutionally—through working towards systemic change in your community and/or organization.

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

February was Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month

Sadly the potential severity of teen dating violence was made all too real last month when 17-year-old Dean Sutcliffe killed his ex-girlfriend's sister and mom's boyfriend in Mazomanie.  Please see the list of articles and resources below related to this case and other teen dating violence issues:

• Mazomanie Homicides Shine Light on Teen Dating Violence: NBC 15 interviewed Hope House's Community Education Program Manager for a segment on teen dating violence.  See related articles: DAIS Director Says Teen Dating Violence is Common and Mazomanie Teen Threatened to Kill Before Double Homicide
  
• Teen Dating Violence Happens in Our Community: Check out Hope House's letter to the editor on Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
• [NY] State Starts Social Media Campaign Against Teen Dating Violence: Check out the 4-minute video featuring teens discussing warning signs of dating violence and encouraging bystanders to speak up.
  

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, clothes (except for sweatshirts and sweatpants), shoes, 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: 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, Sweatshirts and sweatpants
• Misc: 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, New twin bed sheets

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.

Miscellaneous

• Facebook Rolling Out Suicide Prevention Tool: “Facebook worked with mental health organizations including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to ‘provide more resources, advice and support to people who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts and their concerned friends and family members.’  The company announced a new tool that allows users to report to Facebook if a friend has posted a threat to commit suicide. These reports will be reviewed by teams who can ‘send help.’ The poster in question may receive a private message from Facebook saying, ‘...a friend thinks you might be going through something difficult and asked us to look at your recent post.’ It will then direct the person to options to talk to a friend or helpline worker, or to get tips and support”…Read more
• 1 In 3 Women Has Been Sexually Harassed At Work, According To Survey: “A new survey found that one in three women between the ages of 18-34 has been sexually harassed at work. Cosmopolitan surveyed 2,235 full-time and part-time female employees and found that one in three women has experienced sexual harassment at work at some point their lives”…Read more and view the infographic
• Ravages of Revenge Porn Spur Federal Crime Push: "Started in 2012, the End Revenge Porn campaign has helped 11 state pass laws criminalizing revenge porn. Today 16 states have criminal remedies for revenge porn, with more in the works. Though advocates say federal law is also essential to combating this vicious online crime, which is boundary-less like the Internet"...Read more

Local News

• Krystal Schmidtke, 32, of Lodi, faces a felony charge of physical abuse of a child and a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct, stemming from allegations that she restrained and injured a 13-year-old child...Read more

• Justin Wagner, 27, of Wisconsin Dells, faces charges of first-degree attempted intentional homicide, strangulation and suffocation, misdemeanor battery, and disorderly conduct, all alleged to have stemmed from domestic abuse...Read more
• Shawn LaRush, 42, of Portage, charged with false imprisonment and disorderly conduct stemming from allegations that he held a woman against her will...Read more
• Matthew Elliot, 24, of Lodi, sentenced to six months in jail and to register as a sex offender for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl...Read more
• Patrick Kraemer, 46, of Wyocena, will go on trial for first-degree intentional homicide of Traci Rataczak, his girlfriend, in April of 2013…Read more
• Natalie Murphy, 22, of Necedah, charged with first-degree intentional homicide of Andrew Dammen of Mauston, the father of her daughter…Read more

Resources
Child Abuse and Children with Disabilities: Teachers College at Columbia University has created web resources that are specifically focused on preparing for and conducting interviews with children who have been abused who also have disabilities. To view these resources, click here.

OVC’s Victim Assistance Training (VAT) Online has added five new modules to its curriculum: sexual assault, LGBTQ populations, victims with substance abuse issues, financial crimes, and identity theft.  VAT training is free and high-quality. For more information, click here. 

Transgender Sexual Violence Project: Summary of Wisconsin Data: "The Transgender Sexual Violence Project, sponsored by FORGE (For Ourselves: Reworking Gender Expression), conducted a national survey on sexual violence within the transgender and SOFFA (Significant Others, Friends, Family and Allies) community...We broadly define transgender to include a large population of people who do not strictly adhere to societally constructed gender norms and stereotypes." View the data here.

National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (Feb 22-28): The National Eating Disorders Association has created tools and resources to understand eating disorders and support individuals and families on the journey to recovery.  They have an information and referral helpline, lesson plans on digital media literacy, awareness materials, and toolkits for parents, educators, and coaches.  You might also be interested in the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s online resource collection on sexual violence, trauma, and eating disorders, which you can view here.

Training Opportunity
Together for Children Conference: This conference will be held April 15-16 in Lake Geneva. Workshops include Teen Sexual Abuse: What Professionals Need to Know for Prevention and Response; Child Sexual Abuse in a Technological World: Implications for Investigation, Prosecutions and Victim Impact; A Collaborative Model for Reducing Truancy; Maximizing the Benefits of Team Building; Dangerous Homes? What injuries should make you worry about abuse after household 'accidents'; Promoting Resiliency in Young Children in Poverty who have Experienced Complex Trauma; and more. For more information and to register, visit www.preventchildabusewi.org. 

Faith Communities' Section
Save the Date: The next Faith Leaders for Healthy Relationships (FLHR) luncheon will be on April 28 on Spiritual Integrity - how to help individuals re-establish trust in themselves, others, and in a higher power when someone has broken that trust due to experiences of abuse, cheating, crossing boundaries, pastoral misconduct, or conflicts in the church. Thanks to everyone that participated in the last FLHR luncheon, Community Resources Panel, on January 21 at Trappers Turn Golf Club!

More Pastors Embrace Talk of Mental Ills: “Evangelical leaders are increasingly opening up about family suicides, their own clinical depression and the relief they have received from psychiatric medication…This month, a mental health advisory group appointed by Dr. Page offered a variety of proposals to help Southern Baptist congregants and their families with mental health challenges, the first time the church has addressed the subject in a direct and comprehensive manner. The proposals include providing churches with a database of Christian counselors and mental health providers, and offering more robust education about mental health in seminaries and at Christian colleges”…Read more

Parents' & Youth Service Providers' Section
Teaching Digital Citizenship: "In partnership with Disney's Club Penguin, NetSmartz is proud to announce that our latest resource, Teaching Digital Citizenship, is available today! This free, online training tool provides practical tips for leading class discussions and highlights NetSmartz resources ideal for teaching each topic. This program provides an in-depth review of how to teach digital literacy and ethics, inappropriate content, online sexual solicitation, online privacy, sexting, and cyberbullying."

Futures Without Violence’s How to Talk to Teens about Dating Violence: “Below you’ll find information and tools to help you talk to your kids about healthy relationships, guidelines on how to navigate their world of cell phones and social networking and how to talk to your kids about being an upstander vs. a bystander”…Read more

Miss Representation Curriculum 2.0: "Watch this video with a young person in your life and complete the accompanying activity. Next, imagine a whole library of videos like this one, inspiring media literacy and learning. In the curriculum, we've paired multiple, age-appropriate, short videos with easy to implement lessons for both in and out of school. If you want to keep spreading the love, get the Miss Representation Curriculum 2.0 for your local classroom or community group."

Putting Media to the Test: “Here at loveisrespect, we’re all about building and nurturing healthy relationships, but unfortunately the media is not always on the same page.  In honor of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, we’ve decided to dissect some media and put it to the test. The Healthy Relationship test, that is! Below are the music videos for three chart-toppers from 2014 [Jealous by Nick Jonas, Blank Space by Taylor Swift, and Animals by Maroon 5]. To test them, we’re going to focus on both the lyrics and the imagery”…Check out the songs’ scorings

NO BULL Challenge: "A social action organization, NO BULL Challenge invites youth (ages 13 to 23) from around the world to take a stand against bullying and to promote digital responsibility, leadership, and social action through filmmaking and social media. To participate, create a short film, public service announcement (PSA) or vine. To learn more about how you can be a leader, make it all the way to the award show in Los Angeles, and win a scholarship and other prizes, go to www.nobullchallenge.org. Entry deadline: April 19, 2015."

School Experiences of Trans and Gender Non-Conforming Students in Wisconsin: "The purpose of this research is to systematically document the experiences of transgender (trans) and gender non-conforming (GNC) students in Wisconsin schools to fill in the knowledge gaps about their unique needs. Six themes are addressed in the report: learning environment, physical facilities, health and wellness, safety, institutional and social support, and acceptance and respect"...Read the report

Obituaries are not available online at this time. If it becomes available, we will re-post it here.
---
"TOWN OF MAZOMANIE — A 17-year-old boy, apparently upset over a breakup two weeks ago, took a handgun to his ex-girlfriend’s trailer home Monday night and killed the girl’s teen sister and another person, authorities said Tuesday.

Dean M. Sutcliffe was arrested Monday night at the scene of the shooting, said Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney. Investigators are recommending that prosecutors charge Sutcliffe with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide.

Ariyl Brady, 16, and her mother’s boyfriend, Chris Schwichtenberg, a 39-year-old father of two boys, were fatally shot, said Schwichtenberg’s mother, Joyce Zimdars.

Sutcliffe’s ex-girlfriend, Amanda Brady, 15, wasn’t at the home in the Rio Valley Estates trailer park at the time of the shooting, said her father, Justin Brady, of Deerfield.

'Amanda broke up with him and he took it out on my son and Ariyl,' Zimdars said of Sutcliffe.

Zimdars described a shooting scene that began with a surprise knock at the door from Sutcliffe in the quiet of the night.

'Chris went to (open) the door and from what I understand the kid just started shooting,' Zimdars said.

Deputies were called to the mobile home park at 10359 Highway Y, four miles north of Mazomanie, around 11:30 p.m. on Monday and found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds that proved fatal, Mahoney said.

They also found Sutcliffe, Mahoney said.

'He was there and immediately surrendered to deputies,' Mahoney said.

Mary Brady, Schwichtenberg’s girlfriend and Ariyl and Amanda Brady’s mother, shared the trailer home with Schwichtenberg. Mary Brady was there at the time of the shooting, and ran to warn Schwichtenberg’s two teenage sons to stay in their room before she called 911, Zimdars said.

They were all unharmed, Mahoney said.

Sutcliffe and both Brady sisters were students at Wisconsin Heights High School, although according to Sutcliffe’s Facebook page he left the school last month and enrolled in the Wisconsin Challenge Academy, a program for at-risk youth.

Counselors were on hand at the high school to provide support to students and staff there, said Mark Elworthy, superintendent of the Wisconsin Heights School District.

'We have people who are available and dedicated for the next couple of days for that purpose,' Elworthy said.

Schwichtenberg raised his boys alone after their mother died about 10 years ago, Zimdars said, and was the manager of the mobile home park since 2002. Two of his sisters, Julie and Paula, also live at the trailer park, Zimdars added.

'He was my only son. Everybody around here loved him,' said a somber Zimdars, 61, of Madison, who was speaking from Paula’s home Tuesday morning prior to meeting with authorities. Zimdars said she was feeling numb ever since receiving the news just after midnight that her son was killed.

'Chris did everything he could for everybody,' said Zimdars.

Residents of the trailer park described Schwichtenberg as an exceptional manager who took the time to make sure everybody’s needs were met. He was especially helpful to the many elderly residents who lived there, said James Eveland, 66.

'He plowed the snow for me when I was sick. He took care of things for me,' Eveland said. 'He’d do anything for everybody.'

Another resident, Travis Spencer, 32, said Ariyl Brady always came to the aid of his young daughter when she was picked on by older kids on the bus to school. He added that Schwichtenberg earned the residents’ respect as a good father to his boys.

'It makes no sense why somebody would do something like what happened to Chris and (Ariyl),' Spencer said. 'Everybody goes through hard times. You just have to deal with it.'

Sutcliffe’s Facebook page indicates that he and Amanda Brady started dating last September.

Mahoney said deputies had multiple interactions with Sutcliffe because of what the sheriff called 'family dynamics and school attendance issues.'

In an October Facebook post, Sutcliffe announced his plan to start attending the Challenge Academy, and thanked two Dane County deputies that he said helped 'steer me in the right direction.'

The contact with law enforcement was not related to Sutcliffe’s relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Mahoney said.

Officials with Domestic Abuse Intervention Services said the shooting shows that domestic violence can be as serious a problem in teen relationships as it is in adult ones, and that 1.5 million high school students experience physical abuse each year.

'As a community we need to support teens in building healthy relationships and also work to address the root causes of domestic violence with youth,' said Shannon Barry, the Madison group’s executive director."

Read the article in the Wisconsin State Journal
Read the Channel 3000 article

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

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month

Hope House has collected a list of excellent resources and awareness activity ideas for teens, parents, educators, and youth-serving providers for Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.  Click here to view the list and see how you can get involved.  Feel free to call Hope House with any questions or requests for additional information or presentations at 608-356-9123.

UW-Baraboo/Sauk County V-Day Event Benefiting Hope House on February 17

UW-Baraboo/Sauk County is holding its eighth annual V-Day event on February 17th from 12:30-1:45pm at the R.G. Brown Theatre on campus.  The “V” in V-Day stands for Victory, Valentine, and Vagina.  Students and community members will perform a staged reading of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues.”  These monologues are taken from real women’s stories about their bodies, empowerment, and violation.  

Unfortunately, a common experience for many women is that of abuse – child sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, rape, domestic violence, teen dating violence, and stalking.  By breaking the silence and telling women’s stories of strength and survival, other women (and men) feel more comfortable telling their own experiences of abuse.  

These monologues aren’t all heavy and serious.  Many are fun and flirty tales of women claiming their rights to their own bodies (and yes, their vaginas).

This Valentine’s, rather than buying flowers or chocolate, how about doing something unique like taking a partner or a friend to see “The Vagina Monologues”?  After the show, there will be a “Break the Chain” dance performance as part of V-Day’s 3rd annual One Billion Rising campaign.  The suggested donation is $5.  Proceeds help support Hope House.

For more information on V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women and girls, please visit www.vday.org. For more information on the One Billion Rising campaign, please visit www.onebillionrising.org.  To view a poster for this event, please click here.

Hope House Needs Your Help in Reviewing Our Mission
Hope House board and staff will be reviewing its mission and vision.  We'd greatly appreciate community members input for this process.  Please click here to take a 3-question survey by February 9th.  Thanks for your assistance!

Heart Health Workshop at Hope House
Lori Rudolph, Parish Nurse Coordinator, will be at Hope House on February 12 at 10am to give a presentation on heart health. All are welcome to attend. Please call Hope House at 608-356-7500 with any questions.

Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACES) and Protective Factors:
Protecting and Promoting Children’s Well-being Free Workshop in Portage
You’re invited to join others from across Columbia County to come together to learn more about ACEs and their impact on health and well-being.  Because we believe that all of us can be part of creating a better life for children, we will also explore the idea of “Protective Factors” as a framework for preventing ACEs in the lives of children and promoting stronger families. Organized by the Columbia County CARES Advisory Steering Committee, this free workshop will be held on February 12 from 8am-12:30pm at Grace Bible Church in Portage.  Please RSVP by February 6 by emailing Patti Herman, UW-Extension Family Living Educator, at patti.herman@ces.uwex.edu.

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, clothes (except for sweatshirts and sweatpants), shoes, TVs, bar soap, hats, scarves or travel-size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, or body wash. Current needs include

• Bathrooms: Toilet paper, Deodorant, 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: 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, Sweatshirts and sweatpants
• Misc: 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, New twin bed sheets

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
Domestic Violence
Marissa Alexander Released from Jail: "Marissa Alexander, the Florida mother whose case became a rallying cry for anti-racism activists and survivors of domestic violence, was released today after three years of incarceration. Alexander had faced up to 60 years behind bars for firing a single shot near her abusive husband, unable to convince a jury she had feared for her life. A hearing Tuesday confirmed the terms: Having pleaded guilty to assault in exchange for credit for time served, she will be subject to two years of electronic monitoring and house arrest, except for approved appointments and employment"...Read more

• George Zimmerman Arrested on Suspected Domestic Violence
• Watch the NFL's Chilling Anti-Domestic Violence Super Bowl PSA: “The clip, part of the league's No More campaign, features scenes of a disheveled home and the voice of a woman who dials 911 but pretends to order pizza — fearing to openly report the abuse within earshot of her abuser. The PSA, reportedly based on an actual 911 call, shows the woman doing her best to communicate the situation to the emergency operator”…Read more...Read related article: The NFL Wants to Listen to Victims of Domestic Violence: Where Were They Last Year
  
• Viral Italian PSA About Domestic Violence Makes A Good Point, But Not Without Flaws
• Sports Illustrated Will Run Edgy Domestic Violence Ad Ahead Of Super Bowl: “The ad, created by the progressive advocacy group Ultraviolet, includes a dramatic video of a uniformed football player tackling a woman without a helmet. The video notes that 55 domestic abuse cases in the NFL have gone unanswered under the leadership of league commissioner Roger Goodell, and it ends with the hashtag ‘#GOODELLMUSTGO’”…Read more
  
• NFL Player Junior Galette Arrested for Domestic Violence and Battery
• Domestic Violence Assault Charges Against U.S. Soccer Star Hope Solo Dismissed: "At a hearing last week, the judge renewed an order for a deposition after Solo's nephew and half-sister failed to appear for interviews...In court documents, Solo said she was defending herself against her nephew, who is 6-foot-9 and weighs 280 pounds. She claims she was hit over the head with a broom handle. Solo's relatives claimed she attacked first"...Read more
  
• Bar Owner Apologizes For Sign Supporting Domestic Violence

Sexual Assault

• Detroit Tries Charity to Test Backlogged Rape Kits: "The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, which discovered 11,000 untested rape kits in a Detroit police storage unit five years ago, announced Tuesday that it has teamed up with two nonprofits to raise $10 million to pay for the testing, investigation and prosecution of those unsolved rape cases"...Read more...Read related article: 100 Serial Rapists Identified after Rape Kits from Detroit Crime Lab are Finally Processed
• Storyline: How Survivors of Sexual Assault Tell Their Children: "'But as I got older and a little wiser, I changed my perspective. I thought, 'How empowering it can be for them to know the kind of resiliency that is within them. Here I am. Their mom. I got married. I own a home. I got a Master's degree. I teach at a college, and I have a full-time career. I did all these things. Despite what happened'"...Read more
  
• He Was Abused by a Female Teacher, But He Was Treated like the Perpetrator: "Cameron Clarkson was a 16-year-old football player when he suddenly landed in the middle of a sex crime investigation at his St. Paul, Minn., high school. Lawyers grilled him on the details of his sexual history. School officials, in a statement to the press, cited him for not invoking the school’s sexual harassment policy...Gail Gagne, a 25-year-old basketball and lacrosse coach, was a full-time substitute teacher at Cretin-Derham Hall High School and a couple of months away from becoming a regular physical education instructor...Gagne was fired and charged with two felony counts of criminal sexual conduct with a student. But in the investigations that followed, Clarkson was treated more like the perpetrator than the victim. Gagne, meanwhile, faced an easier path in some ways"...Read more
  
• England Just Established "Yes Means Yes" Guidelines for Police Investigating Rape
  
• Uber Safety Checklist Created After Sexual Assault Incidents: "Uber drivers have been in Chicago and Boston have been charged with raping a female customer since December; so far the 'safe ride checklist' is only available in these two cities"...Read more
• NBC Cuts Ties with Bill Cosby amid Sexual Assault Allegations
  

Children & Youth

[WI] Pittsville Students Use Social Media to Pay It Forward: "The entire Pittsville High School student body was not in school for a few hours Wednesday morning...Students and staff members decided to pay forward acts of kindness through volunteering, then post photos and comments on social media accounts"...Read more

• Teen Girls Report Less Sexual Victimization after Virtual Reality Assertiveness Training: "'Research has shown that skills are more likely to generalize if they are practiced in a realistic environment, so we used virtual reality to increase the realism.' The training program, called 'My Voice, My Choice,' emphasizes that victims do not invite sexual violence and that they have the right to stand up for themselves because violent or coercive behavior is never OK...She cautioned, however, that the research is preliminary and based on a small sample: 42 in the 'My Voice, My Choice' condition and 36 in a control condition. Future research is needed to establish the benefits of the program across different age groups and populations, for example, college versus high school students"...Read more
  
• How Girls Are Seeking (and Subverting) Approval Online: "For some -- especially girls -- what starts as a fun way to document and share experiences can turn into an obsession about approval that can wreak havoc on self-image... A new countermovement -- call it the 'ugly selfie' trend -- is prompting girls to share their true selves and accept (and even challenge) whatever feedback they receive"...Read more
  
• Interrupting Cycle of Violence before Young Perpetrators and Their Victims Reach Adulthood: "Evidence suggests that the drivers of gender-based violence among adolescents are similar to those identified for adults. In addition to exposure to violence as a child and prior victimization, bullying and homophobic teasing, poor parental practices, harmful alcohol and substance use, unequal social norms that condone gender-based violence, lack of female empowerment, controlling male behavior, as well as laws and policies that perpetuate gender inequality are risk factors"...Read more
  
• AP: At Least 786 Kids Die of Abuse or Neglect under Watch of Child Protective Services: "Most of the 786 children whose cases were compiled by the AP were under the age of 4. They lost their lives even as authorities were investigating their families or providing some form of protective services because of previous instances of neglect, violence or other troubles in the home...The AP reviewed thousands of pages of official reports, child fatality records and police documents for the period in question, which ran from fiscal year 2008 through 2013"...Read more

Local News

• Students Learn About Healthy Relationships [from Hope House]...Check out this information on the school district newsletter too
• Michael Traxler, 28, of Westfield, was charged with felony counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child and repeated sexual assault of the same child...Read more
  
• Terry Brace, 73, of Columbus, pleaded no contest to felony repeated sexual assault of the same child...Read more
• Sotero Rodriguez, 68, of North Freedom, sentenced to 17 years of prison for sexually assaulting a young girl on multiple occasions in 2013...Read more
• Former U.S. airman Eric Popaeko, sentenced to three years in prison for repeatedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old Reedsburg boy that he met online...Read more
  
• Cody Russell, 21, of Arlington, faces a felony charge stemming for physically abusing a 10-month-old baby boy...Read more

Parents' & Youth Service Providers' Section
Grief In The Classroom: 'Saying Nothing Says A Lot': "A new website — GrievingStudents.org — is trying to help teachers and school leaders answer that question. It's a database of fact sheets, advice and videos. The materials were produced by the Coalition to Support Grieving Students, a group including 10 national organizations that represent teachers, school administrators and support staff"...Read more

Call Out Sexist Ads This Super Bowl Sunday: “[The Representation Project is] inviting you to live tweet the Super Bowl with us and our partners, The 3% Conference. Tell advertisers whether their commercial was a fumble with #NotBuyingIt or a touchdown with #MediaWeLike. Together we can combat harmful stereotypes and demand better representation for all”…Check out the commercials here

Common Sense Media's 10 YouTube Channels for Girls (Completely Makeup- and Fashion-Free!) and 10 Awesome YouTube Channels for Boys (With No Violence, Explosions, or Macho Posturing)

KidSmartz™ Safety Dance Video Contest: "Would you like a chance win $10,000 for your school? Check out this contest from KidSmartz - our sister-program focusing on abduction prevention. The KidSmartz™ Safety Dance Video Contest offers educators a fun and novel way to help K -5 students engage with lessons about personal safety. Film your students dancing to the KidSmartz remix of the 80s hit song 'The Safety Dance.' One school from each of the four regions across the U.S. will be chosen to win. Each school may submit one video entry although K-5 students from multiple classes may perform together"...Click here to learn more.

Thatsnotcool.com Now on Tumblr: Thatsnotcool.com has created a Tumblr that uses gifs, pictures, and quotes to draw attention to common instances of digital dating abuse. Accessible, funny, and informative, this Tumblr is a great social media resource to share with the teens that you work with. Check it out here.  

The "Real World" of Teen Dating Violence: "In this Research for the Real World seminar, Dr. Peggy C. Giordano shares preliminary findings from a longitudinal study on the nature of teen dating relationships and risk factors for dating violence. The findings challenge traditional assumptions about gender in early relationships and how youth deal with disagreement. Conflict around financial concerns, infidelity and time spent with peers are risk factors for violence among young adults. Dr. Giordano stresses that developing a more nuanced view of anger, control and communication around these areas can provide opportunities to change patterns of violence in relationships." Watch the recorded seminar here and read the research brief Teen Dating Violence: How Peers Can Affect Risk & Protective Factors.

Our Gender Revolution Campaign: "The Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence encourages you to engage young people, communities, and schools to promote gender equity as a way to prevent gender violence - relationship abuse, sexual harassment, sexual assault and other forms of violence - that disproportionately impacts girls and women, transgender, and people who are gender non-conforming. As part of February's National Teen Dating Violence Awareness & Prevention Month, an inter-generational partnership of youth and adults developed the Our Gender Revolution high school and middle school campaigns. Order free Our Gender Revolution Campaign materials (conversation guide, posters, brochures, stickers) by clicking here. Materials can also be downloaded. During the months of February-April, anyone who facilitates a conversation with youth or young adults (ages 14-25) and answers a brief survey will be randomly selected for a $100 incentive! Each month we will select up to 25 individuals to receive the incentive for a total of 75 winners. The more conversations you facilitate, the more chances you'll have to be selected! To be eligible for the incentive, facilitate a conversation with high school students and answer the Our Gender Revolution Conversation Guide Survey."

Faith Communities' Section
Community Resources Panel: Thanks to the nearly 40 people that attended the Community Resources Panel on January 21 at Trappers Turn Golf Club in Wisconsin Dells.  Thanks also to the panelists from law enforcement, prosecution, healthcare, human services, advocacy, and a faith community who shared their expertise with us.  This luncheon was part of a series.  Stay tuned for information on the next luncheon on spiritual integrity.

Upcoming Free Webinars from the Faith Trust Institute: Upcoming webinar topics include addressing domestic violence in pre-marital counseling, talking with teens about social media, battered African-American women, the spiritual crisis of child victims of abuse, and addressing elder abuse. Click here to learn more and register.

Resources
Demand Better Media in 2015: "The Representation Project is thrilled to premiere our Demand Better Media in 2015 video. While we have a lot to celebrate, some things aren’t changing fast enough. We all – men and boys, women and girls – must combat harmful stereotypes and demand better representation in our media and culture at large"...Watch the video

The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs' LGBTQ and HIV-Affected Intimate Partner Violence Report in 2013:  "Although reports of violence remained consistent with those in 2012, NCAVP’s 2013 report documents 21 homicides, the highest number of LGBTQ intimate partner violence (IPV) homicides recorded and on par with the 21 homicides in 2012. These intimate partner violence homicides illustrate the severe and deadly impact of intimate partner violence in LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities. Within the 2013 intimate partner violence report, person level data indicates that gay men, LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities of color, LGBTQ youth and young adults, bisexual survivors, and transgender communities experienced the most severe forms of IPV. These findings continue to highlight the importance of IPV prevention, strategic and community-specific responses to IPV, and the need for research and accurate documentation of intimate partner violence in LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities"...Read the full report here

Reproductive and Sexual Coercion Toolkit: The Virginia Action Alliance has released a Reproductive and Sexual Coercion Toolkit with information on coercion, screening, trauma-informed care and resources specifically for home visitors and healthcare providers. View the toolkit here.

Human Trafficking Awareness Month (January 2015): In support of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) has resources for mental health professionals, law enforcement personnel, health care professionals, and survivors on the signs of trafficking and services for human trafficking survivors...Check out these related resources: NSVRC's Assisting Trafficking Victims Information Packet and National Human Trafficking Resource Center

Adult Sexual Assault: A Trauma Informed Approach: The Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board has created a new in-service/roll call training film for law enforcement and allied professionals. This two-part film provides an overview of how trauma impacts victims and how law enforcement first responders can implement a trauma informed response and approach to sexual assault survivors. To preview or share the film on YouTube, click here. To download the film, click here. To order a DVD of the film, click to email here.

Legal Issues Related to Elder Abuse: Guides for Law Enforcement: The American Bar Association has produced two new free publications: a pocket guide and a desk guide for law enforcement on legal issues related to elder abuse. Click here to learn more and to order or download a copy.

Happy New Year! Welcome to the January 2015 edition of Hope House's
Community Education E-bulletin!

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Hope House is Hiring
Have you heard?  Hope House is hiring a full-time Community Educator and a full-time Client Advocate (Legal Focus).  For more information, see our Career Opportunities page.  Please share with anyone that may be interested.

You're Invited to a Community Resources Panel
Hope House is helping to organize a Community Resources Panel on January 21 from 11:30am-1pm at Trappers Turn Golf Club in Wisconsin Dells. Panelists will include staff from health and human services, law enforcement, prosecution, a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, Hope House, Ho-Chunk, and a faith community. Panelists will discuss how their agency acts as a resource to the community, especially as it relates to responding to and preventing abuse and violence. There will be time for Q&A.  Cost is $15 to attend.  For more information and to register, click here.  Hope you can join us!

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, clothes (except for sweatshirts and sweatpants), shoes, TVs, bar soap, hats, scarves or travel-size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, or body wash. Current needs include

• Bathrooms: Toilet paper, Deodorant, 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: Dishwasher soap, 13-Gallon garbage bags, Paper towels, Silverware, Pots and pans, Brush for cleaning bottles, Fruit juice, Sip cups, Milk, Saran wrap, Aluminum foil
• Laundry: Poweaundry detergent, Dryer sheets, Fabric softener sheets
• Clothing for Women and Kids: Winter boots, Socks, Women’s underwear, Medium-Large size pajamas, Sweatshirts and sweatpants
• Misc: 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, New twin bed sheets

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.

One Billion Rising Revolution, February 14, 2015

One Billion Rising comes from the World Health Organization's statistic that 1 in 3 women in the world will be raped or beaten in her lifetime, equaling about one billion women. The theme for the third annual One Billion Rising campaign is revolution - one billion women, men, and children demanding change to end violence against women and girls.

How will you rise?  What represents your revolution?  It can take many forms.  Here are just a few ideas:

• Learn One Billion Rising's "Break the Chain" dance and perform it at your school, church, or community group.  Hope House can help you learn it or you can learn the choreography yourself here.
  
• Get together with some friends and family and create artwork that illustrates a world free of violence and what it will take to get us there.  Ask your school's art teacher to make this a class project.
  
• Create signs that say "I'm rising because..." or "Change can happen if..." and take photos of people in your community holding the signs with their individual responses.
  
• February is also Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.  Get the teens in your life involved with leading a project that promotes healthy relationships and violence prevention.
  

Please contact Hope House at 608-356-9123 if you'd like to get involved this February.  

January is National Stalking Awareness Month and 
National Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month
January 19-23 is No Name-Calling Week

Children & Youth

• Positive Role Models, Safe Communities Linked To Better Mental Health For Poor Teens: "Rather, a combination of having positive adult role models and a favorable perception of their neighborhood made a teen more likely to report better mental health"...Read more
  
• Mean Boys' Rule in Middle, High School, Study Finds: "The study tracked 620 students in six northeast Georgia school districts who completed yearly surveys as they progressed from grade six to 12. In every grade, boys were more likely than girls to use relational aggression"...Read more
  
• How Witnessing Violence Affects a Child, and How to Help: "It takes time to process a traumatic event, she said, and that timeline is different for every person. My son was likely bringing up what happened because he’d hit a new developmental phase, and he was revisiting the attack 'but seeing it in a different way,' she said. So what should we do? 'Be open to talking, and validate the experience'"...Read more
  
• Nearly Half of U.S. Kids Exposed to Traumatic Social or Family Experiences during Childhood: "Among children with two or more adverse experiences who already have a chronic condition requiring regular doctor visits, those who had learned and showed even the one aspect of resilience evaluated in the study were 1.5-times more likely to be engaged in school and nearly half as likely to repeat a grade in school compared to those who had not learned this skill...Some of the most promising methods involve simple breathing techniques as well as so-called 'trauma-informed' care and community approaches growing in popularity all across the country"...Read more

Miscellaneous
Move to End Violence: Building Inclusive Racial and Gender Justice Movements #BlackLivesMatter #FreeMarissa #WhyWeCantWait: "Move to End Violence and its Movement Makers have come together to stand with the hundreds of thousands in our country and millions around the world to assert that our lives and liberation are connected and inextricable. #BlackLivesMatter. We stand with these leaders and ask you to join us in advancing inclusive racial and gender justice movements now. Black women and girls, alongside the black men and boys in their communities, deserve safety and visibility. #blacklivesmatter #freemarissa #whywecantwait"...Watch the video here...Read their full statement here

UN Women's 2014 Gender Equality Timeline: "From the passing of one of the Arab region's most progressive constitutions enshrining women's rights to changes in legislation to provide long overdue redress to wartime survivors of sexual violence, this year there was a number of gender equality achievements, milestones and noteworthy moments from around the world to celebrate. We invite you to take a moment to view a selection of some of these achievements in the latest edition of our interactive timeline — Gender Equality: The Year in Review 2014."

The Respect Challenge Winners: Futures Without Violence has announced the winners of their Respect Challenge where people share who taught them about respect.  Check out the winning entries here.

Training Opportunity

Register now for the 19th annual Fulfilling the Promise Conference. The 2015 conference's special focus on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma informed care will help you take your work to another level. Invited to join are partners in child welfare, law enforcement, substance abuse, mental health and other fields who want to learn how childhood experiences impact lifelong well-being, how ACEs can lead to negative outcomes, and how services can be improved with an understanding of the role of trauma in people's lives. For more information, please click here.

Parents' & Youth Service Providers' Section

• You Are What You Wear: The Dangerous Lessons Kids Learn From Sexist T-Shirts: "'I can’t say one shirt, one Barbie doll...that one thing is not going to be a tipping point of making a difference, but it’s the culture they grow up in that, of course, socializes them...There is such a large subset of messages that remind girls that they are not supposed to be assertive or they’re not supposed to be good at science or math or reinforce the idea that how you look is more important than who you are'"...Read more
  

No Name-Calling Week is Jan 19-23: "No Name-Calling Week was inspired by the popular young adult novel entitled The Misfits by popular author James Howe...No Name-Calling Week has been adopted by schools everywhere and has grown into one of the largest bullying-prevention initiatives in the country." Be sure to check out their planning guide, student survey and pledge, proclamation, poster and stickers, and lesson plans for grades K-12.

• Teaching About Ferguson: Race and Racism in the United States: "These Teaching Tolerance resources can help spur much-needed discussion around implicit bias and systemic racism, but they can also empower your students to enact the changes that will create a more just society"...Check out the resources here
• How To Talk To Boys About Sex And Consent: "Given recent stories about violence against college women, what should parents say to college-age sons? NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with author Rosalind Wiseman about guiding boys through adolescence"...Read or listen to the interview
• Adolescent Health in Wisconsin: "The Office of Adolescent Health has combed through adolescent health information and recently updated our state and national summaries of adolescent health and behavior...You will find OAH fact sheets on five health areas" including reproductive, mental, and physical health and nutrition, substance abuse, and healthy relationships. Read the Wisconsin data sheets.
• Teen Dating Violence Resources: Check out this webpage, recommended to Hope House from a parent, which lists various resources on teen dating violence for teens, their friends, parents, and educators.

Faith Communities' Section

• Community Resources Panel: Please click here to learn more about the Community Resources Panel on January 21 that Hope House is helping to organize with the Faith Leaders for Healthy Relationships committee.
  
• January is National Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month: The Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center (IPJC) has compiled a prayer service, information on starting an awareness vigil, and other resources related to human trafficking awareness: "IPJC acts for justice in the church and in the world. IPJC is sponsored by 18 religious communities and collaborates with Catholic, ecumenical, interfaith and other organizations in carrying out this mission."  The Samaritan Women also has resources on their anti-human trafficking pages: "The Samaritan Women is a national Christian organization providing restorative care to survivors, and bringing about an end to domestic human trafficking through awareness, prevention, and advocacy."

Lantern Memorial 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 memorial 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 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.

The obituary for Donald Simon is not available at this time.  If it becomes available online, we will re-post it here.
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"A Baraboo woman accused of stabbing her brother to death told investigators the incident resulted from a dispute over cigarettes.

In court Friday, a judge ordered that 58-year-old Anne M. Simon remain jailed on a $40,000 cash bond. She has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide in the death of her brother, 56-year-old Donald E. Simon.

The criminal complaint filed Friday in Sauk County Circuit Court says Simon told investigators that her brother had been verbally abusive toward her, asking her for cigarettes early Monday morning.

'At one point, while she was standing at a kitchen counter, he approached her from behind, placed his hands roughly on her shoulders and yelled at her about his cigarettes,' the complaint says. 'She grabbed a knife from the counter, turned and stabbed him in the chest.'

The complaint says the man walked back to the recliner where he had previously been seated, and that Simon saw him collapse onto the floor on his back.

Prosecutors say that incident occurred sometime between 2 a.m. and 2:30 a.m., after which Simon went to her room and went to sleep. About 9 hours later, she awoke to find her brother in the same position, dead on the floor, and called 911, according to the complaint.

Officers arrived at Simon’s Town of Delton home Monday morning to find her brother lying dead on his back on the floor in front of the recliner. An autopsy at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison determined the man died of a stab wound that pierced his heart.

The medical examiner told authorities that Simon’s brother would have died very quickly from the wound he suffered. During a search of the home, investigators allegedly found knives in the basement.

'Crime Lab personnel found a set of Chicago Cutlery knives hidden in the foundation of the residence in the basement,' the complaint states. 'Officers had to break through the concrete block foundation wall to recover some of the knives.'

Investigators say Simon admitted to placing the knives in the basement foundation walls, but had no explanation as to why she had done that.

Simon appeared in court Friday for a bond hearing via video conference from the Sauk County jail with Baraboo attorney Greg Sacra.

Sauk County District Attorney Kevin Calkins asked that the judge impose a cash bond of $100,000, noting that Simon has reason to flee because she faces a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison if convicted. He also said she has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions of drunken driving, disorderly conduct, battery and resisting an officer"...Read the full article in the Baraboo News Republic