
February is a great time to engage teens in promoting healthy relationships and preventing dating violence. Hope House has compiled a list of resources for teens, educators, parents, and youth service providers that you can access here. One of the campaigns listed is Respect Week from February 8-12, which includes Wear Orange Day on February 9 and the National Respect Announcement on February 12. Please join Baraboo High School and River Valley Middle School in promoting these and other activities for TDVAPM. Is your school also participating? Let us know by calling 608-356-9123. In the Baraboo area? Stop in the West Square Building to check out our interactive display, Love Is.

Together We Will – Lift Our Voices, Unite for Change, Live Without Fear
On April 4-6, the 2016 Summit on Healthy Teen Relationships will be held at the Kalahari Resort and Waterpark in Wisconsin Dells! The days will be packed with action and fun, bringing together a diverse group of teens and adults to talk and learn about creating healthy teen relationships and preventing teen dating abuse and sexual assault. Scholarships for teens are available – applications for which are due February 19! To learn more, click here. Plan on attending? Please let us know by calling 608-356-9123 or email us so we can try to connect with you at the summit!

Tell Super Bowl Advertisers You’re Watching
“Starting in 2011, you made your voice heard with the #NotBuyingIt and #MediaWeLike hashtags to encourage major corporations including GoDaddy, Chevrolet, and Teleflora to change sexist representations of women and men. This year, we’re thrilled to partner with 3 Percent Conference and Instant Census for a Super Bowl Tweetup to tell advertisers, the media, and the entire world what people of conscience think of ads…in real-time. Here’s how it works: sign up to be surveyed during the Super Bowl via text messages by texting “SB50” to (217) 731-4368. Game day, you’ll get a handful of questions and we’ll report your feedback to media and advertisers – telling them in a few quick seconds which ads resonate with us, which are alienating, and what we plan to do about it”…Read more

"This Super Bowl, our organizations — the Representation Project and Futures Without Violence — have teamed up to spark conversations through an unconventional campaign called #BeAModelMan. Keep an eye out for us (we’ll be hard to miss). While millions of people around the world will be witnessing American masculinity at its height, we’re inviting men to model healthy behavior and respect toward women and children. Using public art installations, we’re asking men to step up, speak out and model the man you’d like your sons to become, the man who would make your daughters safe in this world, the man who uplifts us all, instead of a few"...Read more
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
- Hope House is in need of donations of jeans, denim, and solid-color quilt squares for an upcoming project. Any you have that could be dropped off would be most appreciated!
- Bathrooms: Toilet bowl cleaner, Toilet paper, Deodorant, Disposable razors, Small garbage cans with bags, Nail clippers, Cleaning supplies such as Lysol disinfecting spray and floor cleaner, Clorox wipes, Hairspray, Bleach, Bathroom rugs and bath mats
- Kitchen: Paper towels, Ziploc bags, Silverware, Tupperware, Small mason jars, Dishwasher soap, 13-Gallon garbage bags, Brush for cleaning bottles, Sip cups, Saran wrap, Aluminum foil
- Food and Beverages: Meat, Fresh fruit and vegetables, Yogurt, Cheese, Canned soup, Snack items (crackers, granola bars, etc.), Fruit juice, Milk
- Laundry: Powder 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: Vacuum, New white full/twin bed sheets, Double stroller, Baby wipes, Band-Aids, Diapers and pull-ups, Pocket-sized calendars, 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 and Research
Sexual Assault
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Campus Sexual Assault
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Domestic Violence
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Sexual Harassment
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- The Most Important Writing From People Of Color In 2015: “While all end-of-year lists aspire to be definitive and comprehensive, there's obviously no way to include all of the stellar and thought-provoking writing by people of color that came out in 2015. See something missing? Share your picks in the comments. In the meantime, check out some of the brilliant, enlightening, and stimulating conversations we had this year”…Read more
- Legislators Organize Blitz of Equal-Pay Legislation in Nearly Half the States: “That’s what a coalition of progressive and women’s empowerment groups are trying this week around the issue of equal pay, advancing bills in nearly half the states at once — from Alaska to Kansas — in a bid to elevate solutions to America’s nagging gender pay disparity at a time when little seems likely to happen in Congress…They also offer a range of tools, ranging from conservative — simply boosting protections for people who discuss salaries at the workplace — to more aggressive. A bill in Massachusetts, for example, would prohibit recruiters from asking prospective hires their salary histories, so that being underpaid early in one’s career doesn’t permanently impair one’s earnings potential”…Read more
- Hope for the homeless: Advocates offer people without shelter help to help themselves
- Maurice Withers, 26, of Lodi, indicted for sex trafficking charges involving two girls and two women…Read more
- Thomas Gruber, 51, of Portage, charged with attempted second-degree sexual assault and false imprisonment…Read more
- Harley Tarkenton, 28, of Portage, charged in connection with a sexual assault has been sentenced to 90 days in jail and three years of probation…Read more
- Gregory Nimmo, 52, of Wisconsin Dells, accused of assaulting and raping a woman at gunpoint will serve four years in state prison after taking a plea deal…Read more
- Gordon Fitzpatrick, 53, of Reedsburg, arrested for exposing himself, this marks the sixth time…Read more
- Gregory Behling, 19, Poynette, plead no contest to a felony charge of second-degree sexual assault of a child and will be sentenced on April 1…Read more

- NCTSN’s The Road to Recovery: Supporting Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Who Have Experienced Trauma: “This Toolkit consists of a Facilitator Guide and a Participant Manual. Together, they are designed to teach basic knowledge, skills, and values about working with children with IDD who have had traumatic experiences, and how to use this knowledge to support children’s safety, well-being, happiness, and recovery through trauma-informed practice.”
- How to Talk to Your Kids About Suicide: Experts Share Tips for Parents: “There are many conversations that parents are uncomfortable having with their kids, but talking about suicide is particularly challenging. The topic is an important one, though, given that suicide is the second leading cause of death among those ages 15-24, and the third leading cause of death among children ages 10-14 year old, according to Centers for Disease Control. It is also often preventable. We asked experts for their answers to some common questions parents have about whether to even broach the subject and, if they do decide to, what is the best way to do so”…Read more
- Body Smart, Body Safe: Talking with Young Children about their Bodies: Check out this guide from A Mighty Girl on books about answering where babies come from, understanding touch and body privacy as well as tips for parents and additional recommended resources.
- Report Looks At Best Practices for Addressing Trauma in Diversion: “When officials in four states were asked several years ago what tools they would need to divert youth from the juvenile justice system, a better understanding of trauma was at the top of all their lists. They wanted to help youth with behavioral conditions when they are evaluated for probation but said they couldn’t do so most effectively without understanding how traumatic experiences had affected the adolescents. A new report sets out a framework for trauma-informed diversion that grew from those states’ experiences and additional research into best practices. It’s intended as guidance for other juvenile justice officials considering reforms to address trauma”…Read more
- National No One Eats Alone Day on February 12: “We are excited to share with you No One Eats Alone, our student-led lunchtime initiative. No One Eats Alone, Beyond Differences' most popular program, is a stand-alone event that takes place during lunch at school. During your event, students make a difference on their own middle school campus by making sure that everyone is included at lunch and students sit with new friends and classmates”…Learn more
- Please Join Us for the Responding to Abuse Later in Life Luncheon: The Faith Leaders for Healthy Relationships Committee, in partnership with Hope House, invite you to a luncheon on February 23 at Trappers Turn Clubhouse in Wisconsin Dells on responding to abuse later in life. This presentation will discuss the warning signs and possible responses of Abuse in Later Life. Our aging population is predicted to blossom in the near future and so will their need for services. By garnering shared understanding of common signs and responses of elder abuse, we can help assure the at-risk senior citizen’s in our community will benefit and thrive. To learn more and to register, please click here.
- Free Webinars from Faith Trust Institute: From March to May, Faith Trust Institute has several free webinars, including How Teens Are Creating Healthy Relationships, Intimate Partner Violence and Women's Health, A Conversation about Spotlight, and more. To view the full listing, click here.
- [Faith Trust Institute Blog Post] What Would Jeremiah Say?: “They are suggesting following the model of the Royal Commission on Institutional Responses to Child Abuse in Australia. The Royal Commission’s work is focused on any child-serving institution in Australia whether schools, churches, orphanages, etc. where children have been vulnerable to abuse. If you study their website, you will see that this multiyear project is a genuine effort by the government to assess where and when abuse occurred, to reach out to survivors, and when possible to hold perpetrators accountable. This is no white wash. They actually want to hear from survivors and have met with over 4,000 directly to hear their experiences and concerns. They continue to have open hearings around the country”…Read more
- Please see the top of this e-bulletin for information on the 2016 Summit on Healthy Teen Relationships.
- Please see the Faith Communities' Section for information on Responding to Abuse Later in Life luncheon.
- PreventConnect's Free Webinar on Feb 3 from 1-2:30pm: From Foundations to the Future: A prevention approach to sexual and domestic violence: "Interested in preventing sexual and domestic violence in your community? Want to engage in a discussion about the underlying causes of sexual and domestic violence and understand how to address these root causes? Join Prevention Institute along with special guests for this introductory web conference reviewing the fundamentals of a public health approach to preventing violence. Highlighting promising, innovative practices, they will discuss how to use the Spectrum of Prevention to create comprehensive strategies. This web conference will also focus on five norms that make sexual and domestic violence more likely to occur and share strategies to effectively shift norms and prevent violence." Click here to register.
- QPR Suicide Prevention: Prevent Suicide Columbia County invites you to get trained in QPR, 3 simple steps anyone can take to save a life from suicide: Question, Persuade, and Refer to resources. Learn how to ask a question and save a life in this free 90 minute training. All are welcome. Feb 18 at 6-7:30pm at the Portage Library. For more information, click here.
- Free Youth Mental Health First Aid Training: The Adams-Friendship School District is providing two free trainings in February and March on Youth Mental Health First Aid. Dinner and snacks will be provided. For more information, please see the flyer.
- Save the date: The Prevent Suicide Wisconsin Conference will be held on April 27th at the Holiday Inn in Stevens Point. More information coming soon here.
- Together for Children Conference: “Join us for the 29th Together for Children conference in Lake Geneva, WI, April 5-7, 2016. Each year, participants attend workshops to gain knowledge in prevention strategies, innovative intervention and treatment strategies, best practice and research initiatives, as well as other current topics in the areas of child abuse and neglect”…Learn more
Toolkit for Community Conversations About Mental Health: “The Toolkit for Community Conversations About Mental Health is designed to help individuals and organizations who want to organize community conversations achieve three potential objectives: Get others talking about mental health to break down misperceptions and promote recovery and healthy communities; Find innovative community-based solutions to mental health needs, with a focus on helping young people; Develop clear steps for communities to address their mental health needs in a way that complements existing local activities. The Toolkit includes: Information Brief, Discussion Guide, and Planning Guide.”