January 2017 Community Education E-bulletin

1/2/2017

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. New Parenting Support Group
2. Change in Dates for Mauston Support Group
3. Empower Baraboo Advisory Committee Meeting
4. Hope House Donation Needs
5. Sexual Assault
6. Campus Sexual Assault

7. Domestic Violence
8. Children & Youth
9. Miscellaneous News
10. Local News
11. Parents' & Youth Service Providers' Section
12. Resources

New "Parenting through Trauma" Support Group
We are excited to announce a parenting support group for parents of kids who have experienced trauma. This support group will begin on January 17th and run every Tuesday at 1:30pm at Hope House, 720 Ash St in Baraboo. It will be facilitated by our Family Advocate, Jennifer Macdonald, who has worked in our community for many years supporting families as both a teacher and an employee of Lutheran Social Services (before coming to Hope House). The group will focus on

Managing anxiety and stress (for you and your child).
Strengthening the parent-child bond.
Building and maintaining healthy, strong relationships.
Increasing resilience during difficult times.
Supporting a child who has experienced a traumatic event.

Please share this information with those who you think would benefit from attending. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents to strengthen their support of and their relationships with their children. For more information, call 608-356-7500 or 1-800-584-6790.

Change in Dates for Support Group in Mauston
Hope House's support group in Mauston is changing dates. Starting this January, it will be held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month. Group sessions will still run from 6-7 PM at the Mile Bluff Medical Center, 2nd floor conference room, in Mauston. Questions? Please call Hope House at 608-356-7500 or 1-800-584-6790.

Next RPE Empower Baraboo Advisory Committee Meeting
The next Empower Baraboo Advisory Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 17th 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. Meetings are spent planning 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: 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.

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: Kitchen sponges, Paper towels, Ziploc bags, 13-Gallon garbage bags, 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 and sugar and creamer
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 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, 10-gallon storage totes

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

The Anti-Brock Turner: Hero Judge Puts Pickup Artist Rapist Away for 8 Years: “A California judge has sentenced San Diego 'pickup artist' Alex Smith to eight years in prison—the maximum allowable under California law—for the gang rape of a woman in 2013. ‘This is not a hard decision at all. In fact, if I could give you more time I would,’ San Diego Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Fraser said on Friday, in a ruling that runs counter to a spate of sexual-assault sentences that sparked national outrage for their leniency in 2016…At the time of the rape, Smith, 27, was acting as an instructor for a company called Efficient PIckup which promised to teach clients a ‘rejection-proof’ technique for sleeping with women only minutes after meeting them. The rape convictions are thought to be the first for members of the pickup community”…Read more
We Need To Talk About Casey Affleck's Sexual Assault Allegations: “She was the only woman on the set at the time, and says she was repeatedly harassed by Affleck, as well as the rest of the crew as they were encouraged by the director. White shared a number of cases of inappropriate and aggressive behavior, including one instance in which Affleck ordered a male crew member to show White his penis. On another occasion she described, Affleck attempted to get her to share a hotel room with him. When she refused, Affleck allegedly grabbed her and tried to intimidate her into spending the night with him, and then sent her abusive text messages afterward, calling her ‘profane names,’ for refusing him”…Read more…Read related article: After Sexual Misconduct Allegations, Race Colors Stars' Reputations Differently
Lady Gaga Revealed She Has Been Living with PTSD Since Being Raped: “The singer was raped when she was 19, and has been open about her experience; she dedicated the song ‘Til It Happens To You’ to fellow survivors of sexual assault. But she never revealed that she's still dealing with the psychological effects of the trauma until now. ‘I suffer from PTSD,’ she told interviewers. ‘I've never told anyone that before, so here we are. But the kindness that's been shown to me by doctors as well as my family and my friends, it's really saved my life’”…Read more
The Progress and Pitfalls of Television’s Treatment of Rape: “But part of the reason Fuller banned sexual assault from ‘Hannibal’ was because he saw too many shows trying to wrap up rape plots ‘in 42 minutes,’ and bypassing what it means to have gone through that experience or to be a survivor”…Read more
Bill Cosby Loses Battle to Quash Deposition About Quaaludes: “A deposition in which Bill Cosby talks about giving pills to women for sex can be used against him at his criminal sexual abuse trial, a judge ruled Monday…Cosby is charged with with drugging and molesting Andrea Constand at his Pennsylvania home in 2004 — the only criminal case stemming from dozens of claims of sexual misconduct that have surfaced in the last year and a half”…Read more

Some Days the Bomb Goes Off: After going public with allegations against her instructor, ballerina Lissa Curtis was unwittingly —and uncomfortably — thrust into the role of a spokesperson for sexual assault survivors: “Curtis advocates on behalf of survivors through her ballet, even as that very art triggers her severe PTSD and pushes her to her mental and emotional limits. ‘I feel as though I live with a ticking time bomb inside my chest,’ Curtis says. ‘Some days the bomb goes off — the flashbacks, memories, and terrifying PTSD flooding happens, which cripple me for the hours after and often the next day. Other days I just hear the tick, but it’s always there, a rattling anxiety in my chest’”…Read more
A 20-Year Toll: 368 Gymnasts Allege Sexual Exploitation: “IndyStar previously reported that top officials at USA Gymnastics, one of the nation’s most prominent Olympic organizations, failed to alert police to many allegations of sexual abuse that occurred on their watch and stashed complaints in files that have been kept secret. But the problem is far worse. A nine-month investigation found that predatory coaches were allowed to move from gym to gym, undetected by a lax system of oversight, or dangerously passed on by USA Gymnastics-certified gyms”…Read more
The Understudied Female Sexual Predator: “To date, no existing clinical studies examine large numbers of female sexual perpetrators. As a result, we understand less than we might of a category of sexual perpetrator that, while not the most common, will still victimize many thousands each year”…Read more
Black Female Scientist Using $324K Grant to Research Rape Investigation Methods: “‘This grant will enable us to conduct research into a unique new means of identifying perpetrators of sexual assault when traditional DNA evidence doesn't exist,’ Bridge said in the release. ‘It's an important line of research that has become even more important as rapists attempt to elude capture by covering their DNA tracks after an assault'...She's also working with the Orlando Public Defender's Office to create an educational website for attorneys, helping them to understand what forensics can realistically do”…Read more

Campus Sexual Assault

The ‘Brutal Solidarity’ of the Minnesota Gophers: “The players were demanding the reinstatement of 10 teammates who had been accused of taking part in a gang rape. They folded after two days…The police may not have pressed charges, but the players were found to have violated of the campus’s code of conduct. Sentencing—suspension or expulsion—was not due to happen until after the Holiday Bowl. The school decided independently to make the players sit for the December 27 bowl game, which sparked the team’s boycott”…Read more
UW System Looks to Standardize Sexual Assault Training across Institutions: “Instead of having each individual institution create its own program, UW System Sexual Violence and Harassment Task Force’s report includes recommendations that will apply to all system institutions, UW System spokesperson Stephanie Marquis said…The training will primarily take place online and include topics like 'healthy relationships, bystander intervention and the Campus Save Act,' Marquis said. The Campus Save Act requires higher education institutions to educate students, faculty and staff on sexual assault, rape, domestic violence and other related topics. Training for students has already begun while employees will complete theirs by the end of the current academic year”…Read more
OCR Receives Record Number of Complaints: “By far, the largest increase has been in reports of sexual violence on college campuses. Since 2011, when the department released a Dear Colleague letter urging institutions to more rigorously investigate and adjudicate reports of sexual assault, the number of complaints related to campus sexual violence has increased by 831 percent”…Read more

More than 400 Students Show up to Sexual Assault "Stand-in" Event: “The initial presentation in Buckley Auditorium was brief, but nearly the entire crowd made its way to St. Mary’s afterwards for more conversations on how to move forward after the week’s events…The event was clearly intended to be the start of a conversation, allowing students to come together in person after a week of expressing frustrations and concerns individually and online, and the 400+ attendees suggested that it’s a discussion that will likely continue”…Read more
New Bill Seeks To Add Campus Rape Charges To College Transcripts: “The Safe Transfer Act would require information about sexual assault charges to stay on a student’s transcript for five years after their disciplinary case settles. Colleges would also be required to disclose case results to officials at any other postsecondary institution that the accused student tried to attend. If a student was cleared, the case would be not added to their transcript. Accused students would not be able to escape this transcript notation by leaving before the final results come in, either”…Read more

Domestic Violence

I Studied 18 Years Worth of Domestic Violence Articles. Here’s What Journalists Can Do Better: “If the crime was portrayed as the perpetrator’s fault, the reason provided was often that he was mentally ill or had drug or alcohol problems. Less than one percent — maybe one percent — of the articles (at least from this dataset) had any sort of discussion of the fact that this person may have had a documented history of violence and abuse, or that this crime was based in power and control and trying to hurt the victim…I’d like to see journalists be able to spend the time to gather all of the information that might be present. Like: Was there a restraining order against this person? How many times were the police called prior to the deadly incident?...Another challenge to telling the whole story is that reporters often use extra caution to try and protect the victim’s identity as best as possible”…Read more
Jahr: Alma Center Addresses Root Causes of Domestic Violence: “His probation officer directed him to a program at the Alma Center, a research-based agency at 2821 N. 4th St. in Milwaukee that was founded in 2004 to serve men who generally don’t elicit much sympathy: perpetrators of domestic violence…More than 2,000 men have participated in Alma Center programs. The results appear dramatic. According to an annual internal evaluation, there is an 86% reduction in the recidivism rate for men who complete the center’s Men Ending Violence program”…Read more
South Carolina Legislator Arrested On Domestic Violence Charges: “Children were heard screaming at their father to 'stop' in a 911 call made from the a South Carolina state legislator’s house, and the resident was charged with beating and aiming a gun at his wife afterward”…Read more
We Shouldn't Need to See Joe Mixon's Assault Tape to Be Outraged: “Two years ago, Joe Mixon punched a female student so hard that he broke four bones in her face. She needed her jaw to be wired shut. The feeling on the left side of her face did not return for months. These are facts. They have never been disputed, by the star Oklahoma running back or the woman he punched, fellow OU student Amelia Molitor. And these facts should have been all we needed, enough to trigger horror and outrage, not only at Mixon's actions but also at the way Oklahoma responded. Mixon served a one-year suspension, which was basically just a redshirt season”…Read more

Lorena Bobbitt Is Done Being Your Punchline: “The public made up their own jokes and songs about the sordid circumstances. It didn’t matter there was overwhelming evidence that John Wayne was abusive, with even the prosecution’s own experts concluding that he had beaten and raped her. (In the years since, John Wayne has been arrested five times and convicted twice for domestic violence offenses involving two different women.)"…Read more
Why It’s Dangerous To Claim Domestic Violence ‘Spikes’ Over The Holidays: “She pointed to a 2010 report released by the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, which was not able ‘to find any reliable, national study linking the holidays with an increase in domestic violence’…What can be measured, though, is whether there is an increase in victims reaching out for help, either by calling the police or accessing support services. Victims may actually be less likely to reach out for help during the holidays, according to data from the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the country’s confidential, 24/7 helpline. For the past 10 years, the call volume on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day was far lower than on an average day…Domestic violence victims may feel societal pressure to keep their families intact around Christmas, she explained. Holidays are typically seen as a special time for celebrating families. Victims may feel guilty for not living up to cultural expectations, she said, and may try to stick it out a bit longer”…Read more

Children and Youth

4 In 10 Middle Schoolers Deal With Sexual Harassment: “‘Students failed to recognize the seriousness of these behaviors — in part because teachers and school officials failed to address them,’ said Espelage. When her group interviewed the adults in the room, they were much less likely to admit harassment was even happening on school grounds, while others weren’t sure they had to report or otherwise protect their students from harassment, as per district and federal policies. ‘These findings highlight the importance of making sexual harassment prevention efforts a priority in U.S. school districts,’”…Read more...Read related article: The Disturbing Connection between Bullying and Sexual Harassment
Off The Field, A High School Football Coach Teaches Athletes Consent: “This season, the football team used the ‘Coaching Boys Into Men’ program. It’s a curriculum that gives coaches the resources to talk to players about sexual violence and promote healthy relationships…Robinson said coaches don’t often talk to their players about safe sex or consent until it’s too late. ‘Someone’s pregnant, someone’s in trouble,’ he said. ‘There’s no preventative work going on because people are just not comfortable talking about it. And a lot of times it’s the adult that’s not comfortable.’ The idea of consent has come up in almost every session, Robinson said. Counselors with PAAR led a session this fall with the football players about mutual respect and the legalities of consent”…Read more

Bresha Meadows, 15, to be Charged as a Juvenile in Dad's Slaying, Prosecutor Says: “That means Meadows will not be charged as an adult in the death of her father, Jonathan, who was shot in the head July 28 in his home in Warren's west side. The girl, who was 14 at the time, could have faced life in prison if convicted as an adult. The case has gained national attention because of allegations of longstanding domestic abuse. Bresha's mother, Brandi Meadows, told The Plain Dealer in August that her daughter fired a .45-caliber gun to put an end to the non-stop abuse that Brandi faced”…Read more

Miscellaneous News

YouTube’s New Tools Attempt to Address Online Harassment: “YouTube recently created new tools to combat online abuse occurring within comments. These tools let users who post on their site choose words or phrases to 'blacklist' as well as the option to use a beta (or test) version of a filter that will flag potentially inappropriate comments. With both tools, the comments are held for the user’s approval before going public. Users can also select other people to help moderate the comments”…Read more…Read related resource: Hollaback’s Self-Care Guide for Online Harassment and Reaching Out When Someone’s Being Trolled
For Women, Heavy Drinking Has Been Normalized. That’s Dangerous: “‘The rise in hazardous drinking among women is not all due to the ads. But the ads have played a role in creating a cultural climate that says it’s funny when women drink heavily,’ said Jean Kilbourne, who has produced several films and books about alcohol marketing to women. ‘Most importantly, they’ve played a role in normalizing it’”…Read more
You Can Now Get Fined for Street Harassment in Argentina: “Proven cat-callers could be slammed with small fines or court-mandated public service. The legislation also creates educational campaigns within the health, education, and transportation ministries that would teach Argentines that any comment or interaction in the street still requires a woman's consent. These programs will also emphasize how to spot street harassment and intervene on a victim's behalf”…Read more

How an Uber Driver Stopped Child Sex Trafficking in Elk Grove: “This discussion, coupled with the girl's attire, alerted Avila to the possibility that child sex trafficking was taking place in his car. After dropping all three off at the Holiday Inn Express in Elk Grove, Avila said he moved to a safe distance and immediately called police”…Read more
#16Heroes: Breaking the Cycle of Violence: Meet Together for Girls’ 16 Heroes for 2016: “This year, during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, we celebrate 16 heroes from 16 very different walks of life with 16 very different identities and 16 unique stories. From students to journalists to rappers to American vice-presidents, our #16Heroes showcase a global truth: while no one is safe from violence, compassion and integrity also know no boundaries”…Read more
StoryCenter’s 16 Days of Activism Videos: “In recognition of the global ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence,’ StoryCenter shares these courageous stories by women from all walks of life who are healing and standing in solidarity against continued abuse of women and girls”…Watch here

Local News

Marcus Tanksley, 29, of Milwaukee, will soon be released from Columbia County Jail after serving nearly 200 days following a conviction for felony stalking…Read more
Ashley A. Horton, 33, of Oakdale, and Richard L. Beck, 43, of Mauston, are being charged with negligence in the death of their son Donald Beck on June 18, 2012 in Mauston. The infant was just a few months old at the time of death…Read more
Maurice Withers, 27, of Lodi, indicted on three additional charges related to sex trafficking on top of six charges brought forth in January…Read more
Kyle Wilcox, 20, of Portage, sentenced to three years in prison and five years of supervision in a case revised from attempted sexual assault of a child to felony mental harm to a child…Read more

Parents' and Youth Service Providers' Section

Why We Need Trauma-Sensitive Schools: “There are a growing number of schools throughout Massachusetts and the United States engaged in the work of creating trauma-sensitive schools. This video features one such school, the Baker School in Brockton, MA. The Baker is one of several schools in Brockton that are becoming trauma-sensitive through a concerted, well supported district-wide effort”…Watch 10-minute video
What Do You Say to ‘That’s So Gay’ & Other Anti-LGBTQ* Comments?: “It doesn’t matter if it’s a first grader who might not know what the word ‘gay’ means, a sixth grader trying to sound cool, or a tenth grader 'teasing' a friend. All of these have the potential of creating an unsafe classroom or school environment and must be addressed. So, what can caring adults do? Stop It…Keep it simple with quick responses”…Read more
Let Her Learn: A Toolkit to Stop School Push Out for Girls of Color: “In general, schools suspend Black, Latina and American Indian/Alaskan Native girls at higher rates than white girls. These practices tell these girls that school is not a welcome place. These practices may also be informed by illegal gender and racial bias. This tool kit will help you find out if your school’s discipline policy treats girls of color fairly. Use this guide to learn your rights, how you can change your school policy, and where to find help”…Read more
All The Rights Every High Schooler Threatened By Sexual Violence Needs To Know: “But, those very same rights are also given to students in elementary, middle and high school. These rights are created by Title IX, a federal law that says there can’t be discrimination on the basis of sex…All students — from elementary school to college — have a set of rights, as detailed by Know Your IX, an organization dedicated to Title IX rights”…Read more
2015 Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect Report and the Children in Out-of-Home Care Report: The Division of Safety and Permanence (DSP) is pleased to present the 2015 Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect Report as well as the 2015 Wisconsin Children in Out-of-Home Care Report.

No Name-Calling Week 2017: January 16-20: “We celebrate kindness by putting it into action! Every year for No-Name Calling Week, GLSEN provides students and educators with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to challenge bullying and name-calling in their communities…Whether you’re a teacher, student, community organizer, bus driver, guidance counselor, coach, or librarian, show you care by organizing a week of activities at your school aimed at ending name-calling once and for all. Register to receive updates and offers!"
NSVRC’s Talking Points: “Considerations for School District Sexual Misconduct Policies”: “In September 2016, the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault released guidance for school districts around creating and sustaining a specific sexual misconduct policy, specifically recommending that districts address sexual violence prevention in their policy. These talking points offer additional suggestions on how to include prevention in a comprehensive sexual misconduct policy for grades K-12.”
New Video in TAG Talks Series: The Crisis of Connection for Adolescent Boys: "Research and personal experience tell us about the importance of friendships for adolescents. Still, we know that many adolescent boys struggle to make and keep close friends. A new video called 'The Crisis of Connection for Adolescent Boys' underscores that adolescent boys want and need close, supportive friendships and provides guidance to professionals and family members on how to foster those relationships. The video features NYU Professor Niobe Way, who has studied adolescents’ social development for over 30 years. She shares what young men say about increasing isolation as they move from childhood to adolescence and how social connections affect health and well-being. In this video Way encourages adults to rethink assumptions and provides strategies to encourage the friendships that help adolescent boys thrive"...Watch video

Resources

RAINN’s Legal Role of Consent: The national organization RAINN has a webpage on the legal role of consent, including a state law database for how each state defines sexual assault, consent, and more. Click here to learn more.
January is National Stalking Awareness Month: "Welcome to the National Stalking Awareness Month (NSAM) website. Whether you are planning your first or 14th observation NSAM you will find a variety of resources to assist you in your efforts. You can download our videos, fact sheets, guides, posters, artwork for buttons and magnets, events ideas, and media tools; take our interactive quiz; plan a training on stalking; and start planning your outreach for National Stalking Awareness Month"...Leare more
January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month: Learn more about human trafficking from these two Ted Talks:
- Noy Thrupkaew: Human trafficking is all around you. This is how it works
- Sunitha Krishnan: The fight against sex slavery

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January 2017 Community Education E-bulletin

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