Posts Tagged ‘Education’

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In the News: 5/2 – 5/6

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

Doorways has some tips to help you talk to your children about homelessness.  Reports of rape increased in Arlington County while the County tries to explain the number of homelessness in Arlington.  The District of Columbia is experiencing a budget shortfall in dealing with domestic violence while renters everywhere are paying a record amount to keep the roof over their head.  And this is just some of what’s in the news . . .

Doorways Feature

Local

Domestic Violence

Homelessness

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A Thin Line Between Virtual and Reality

Thursday, April 28th, 2011

With Sexual Violence Awareness Month coming to a close, we wanted to pass along a great resource for you.  Parents often struggle to connect with their kids over sexual abuse issues, because technology is playing a larger part in forwarding that abuse.  Without violating my daughters privacy, how do I control what she texts other people?  How do I make sure my son is being respectful on Facebook if he won’t ‘friend’ me?

We need to prevent sexual violence and digital abuse, but we need a credible source to help spread that message and instigate a conversation with our children.  With that in mind, MTV created A Thin Line Campaign.  There is a thin line between words and wounds; a thin line between virtual and reality.  There is a great repository of videos that target school children.  Please, check it out and help spread the message that there is an important line that we can never cross if we are to stop sexual and digital abuse.

Here is a video about Sexting in America from MTV News:

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In the News: 4/25 – 4/29

Monday, April 25th, 2011

Homelessness may not be on the decline in Arlington while it increases in the D.C. area.  A powerful story of sexual assault on college campuses reminds us to work to keep our campuses safe while Virginia gives greater protection to dating partners.  This is just some of what’s in the news . . .

Homelessness

Domestic violence

And that is just some of what’s in the news.

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To Sext or Not to Sext

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

When you send a text where does it go?  To someone you trust?  That’s what Alexis thought.  She had been dating Max for almost a year, and in high school, that might as well be an eternity.  In just a couple of weeks, they  were going to prom and were looking forward to spending the night with all of their friends.  A week before prom, Max had sent a text to Alexis, asking her to text nude photos of herself to him.  The tux had been bought and the bow tie tied, a nude photo was what Max thought he needed to get excited for prom.

“Thanx for the sext.”  Alexis couldn’t believe she had just done that.  She couldn’t believe she had just sent those photos.  But, where did they go?  Where will they go?

Alexis went to prom, but she couldn’t relax.  Max had his tux on and bow tie tied, but he also had those photos in his pocket.  As Alexis looked around the dance floor, everyone smiled at her.  She just couldn’t tell if they were smiling at her dress or what was under it.

“Why did we do that?”  Max laughed and said, “I was just being a teenager.”

Doorways recognizes the overwhelming influx of technology over the recent years and how this technology has altered the forms of communication as well as the ability for abusers to target their victims more easily.  Sexting does not only occur between two teens but also between sexual abusers and their victims.  Because the legal system continues to adapt to the growth in technology, sexting can put an offender in jail.  For now, it is important to educate teenagers about sex and to talk to your children and community about the dangers of sexting.

For Sexual Violence Awareness Month, learn more about digital abuse.  Check out the great A Thin Line campaign.

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In the News: 4/11-4/15

Monday, April 11th, 2011

Virginia is shutting down a town of tents while protecting the location of survivors of abuse.  Fairfax County is getting attention for preventing homelessness, while a new game challenges you to survive one month being homeless.  Congress is investigating sexual violence in DC public schools, while Vice President Biden launches a national campaign to end sexual violence in schools.  And this is just some of what’s in the news . . .

Homelessness

Domestic Violence

Local

National

And that is just some what’s in the news this week.

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Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). A month dedicated to raising public awareness about sexual violence and educating the public on how to prevent sexual violence.  It’s a month to engage our friends in a conversation.

Forty-four percent of sexual assault victims are under the age of 18 and eighty percent are under the age of 30. In 2007, there were 248,300 victims of sexual assault. Not only are victims of sexual assault young, these victims often do not report the incident to police. This month is a call to create greater public awareness and to open the avenues by which all victims of sexual assault feel empowered to come forward and speak out against their attacker.

Doorways recognizes the importance of community awareness of sexual violence. Sexual abuse is one more way for a violent partner to establish control within the relationship. This month, talk to your family and friends to raise awareness of this abuse.  We need to call it what it is: a major “public health, human rights, and social justice issue.”

We are going to use this month to share stories on the impact of sexual abuse. But, we need everyone to join in the conversation if we are to prevent further abuse.

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He said if I loved him, I’d have sex with him

Monday, October 18th, 2010

This coercion poster in the Red Flag Campaign series has stuck with me since the first time I saw it, 3 years ago.

I skipped class that day. It was something about that poster and its message that made me realize I had some thinking to do.

Fast-forward to August 2010, in the middle of a stressful internship hunt, I found an opening at Doorways for a Red Flag Campaign intern. I jumped at the opportunity. I did not think about resume building, networking, or even money. I would have taken the internship for free! I wanted to become a part of something that helped change my life and give back to an organization that opened my eyes to see just how valuable I am.

I can only hope while I am interning that someone else gets the wakeup call I did. I think about this for every flag and poster I place this October. This internship is more than a job to me. Whether it is true or not, I feel like I am making a difference by just being involved. I do not think I could have gotten as much satisfaction from a different internship as I do this one.

I know that I am not the only woman in the world that has been in an unhealthy relationship and was blind to the fact. I know a lot of students, men and women, do not know the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships. The Red Flag Campaign that Doorways promotes won’t make dating violence disappear tomorrow but I know it is a start and I have true faith that one day we will live in a world full of more love then violence.

~Christina Womack, Doorways Red Flag Campaign Intern

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Behind closed doors or not, we should be outraged

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010

Warning this video is a graphic depiction of violence and is not recommended for young children.

Wow.  I just watched this riveting, jarring and scary public service announcement for domestic violence awareness from our neighbors in Canada.   It left me haunted that this scenario, behind closed doors, is not far off in the intensity and cruelty that we encounter in the stories of survivors of intimate partner violence.  What is particularly disturbing is the presence of the children; also too common in occurrences of family violence.  In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, please watch and pass on to people you know in honor of the real victims who this portrayal is aiming to serve and protect.

~Linda

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A Time for Reflection

Tuesday, October 5th, 2010

It’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  Even though every day I spend emotional and mental energy considering this scourge in our society because of my role with Doorways,  I put more consideration into awareness during October as we highlight the stories  of our clients and increase our public education efforts. 

Here are just a few national noteworthy prominent stories this past year on domestic, dating and intimate partner violence:

- Mel Gibson’s emotionally abusive and physically threatening tirade towards his ex-girlfriend.

- A song by Eminem featuring Rihanna about how domestic violence impacts a couple from a personal, and controversial, perspective.

Even though as an advocate I know the CDC statistic that 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime I am still often shocked by how pervasive it is in our culture.  While the instances above made the news, we know the vast majority stay behind closed doors.

Shockingly, at our modest little Safehouse where we host a 24-hour hotline for domestic violence, we received over 1,100 calls  impacting over 1,500 adults and children.  A 35% increase from the previous year.  For a community of our size, this is an astonishing number of calls and it begs the question: how can we let this happen?  

Although I’m relieved that many people, who were by and large the victim themselves, reached out for help, I am also hopefully because we received a number of calls seeking help for a friend, family member or coworker. 

I challenge us as a community to make this issue front and center. To recognize it, as the CDC does, as a “serious public health issue” and to not only talk about the issue when it makes the news.  Can you meet this challenge?

~Linda

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Homeless Youth Preparing for Back to School

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

Kids returning to the Family Home after school.

Due to circumstances outside of her control, one of my HomeStart clients will have to move within the first few weeks of the school year leaving uncertainty about where her children will be attending school this year. The children will most likely have to start at a new school where they don’t know anyone and I, with our Children’s Services staff, are working to ensure they can start at their new school on the first day. The goal is to help the family find stability and reduce the likelihood that the children will have to transfer after a few weeks once they have moved.

When I delivered the children’s back to school items, a backpack with all of the supplies and a gift card for new clothing donated by our Back to School Sponsors, it was clear that having something tangible was very reassuring for them. Each child pulled out every last item describing them to me. They oooohhhed and aaaahhhed over their backpacks, lunch bags, and water bottles as if they were priceless treasures. Their excitement grew as they organized their pencils, crayons, and notebooks, eagerly talking about the upcoming school year. The security of starting the school year well prepared will help these children to overcome some of the other uncertainties in their life right now.

Thank you to all the donors who contributed to our Back to School drive this year, we greatly appreciate your kindness. Your continued support ensures that each child in our programs (62 today!) will have what they need today on the first day and into the future as they continue towards academic success!

~Kristen Barnes, MSW, HomeStart Client Services Coordinator

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