Certification Programs in Traumatic Stress and Crisis Management Specialties

Certification Programs in Traumatic Stress and Crisis Management Specialties The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress® in collaboration with the National Center for Crisis Management® offer members the opportunity to achieve certification in traumatic stress and crisis management specialty areas. There are 17 specialty certifications which fall into one of two programs:Certifications in Traumatic Stress Specialties or Certifications in Crisis Management Specialties. The specialty certifications are listed below under their respective program headings. All certifications and credentials obtained by members are recognized by both the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress and the National Center for Crisis Management. The certificate awarded to successful candidates indicates this dual recognition. Furthermore, all awarded certifications are included in the member’s profile in the Professional Directory of the National Center for Crisis Management, the associations' online directory and referral network. The Professional Directory is available online through a searchable database. Certifications in Traumatic Stress Specialties Members are afforded the opportunity to achieve certification in 13 different Traumatic Stress Specialties. Applicants must complete the Application for Certifications in Traumatic Stress Specialties and provide the requisite documentation of their knowledge, training, education and experience related to the traumatic stress specialty area for which they are applying. • CERTIFICATION IN FORENSIC TRAUMATOLOGY (C.F.T) • CERTIFICATION IN BEREAVEMENT TRAUMA (C.B.T.) • CERTIFICATION IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (C.D.V.) • CERTIFICATION IN MOTOR VEHICLE TRAUMA (C.M.V.T.) • CERTIFICATION IN SEXUAL ABUSE (C.S.A.) • CERTIFICATION IN DISABILITY TRAUMA (C.D.T.) • CERTIFICATION IN RAPE TRAUMA (C.R.T.) • CERTIFICATION IN PAIN MANAGEMENT (C.P.M.) • CERTIFICATION IN STRESS MANAGEMENT (C.S.M.) • CERTIFICATION IN ILLNESS TRAUMA (C.I.T.) • CERTIFIED CRISIS CHAPLAIN (C.C.C.) • CERTIFICATION IN CHILD TRAUMA (C.C.T) • CERTIFICATION IN CRISIS INTERVENTION (C.C.I.) CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION FOR CERTFICATION IN TRAUMATIC STRESS SPECIALTIES Certifications in Crisis Management Specialties Members are afforded the opportunity to achieve certification in four different Crisis Management Specialties. Applicants must complete the Application for Certification in Crisis Management Specialties and provide the requisite documentation of their knowledge, training, education ad experience related to the crisis management specialty area for which they are applying. • CERTIFICATION IN EMERGENCY CRISIS RESPONSE (C.E.C.R.) • CERTIFICATION IN SCHOOL CRISIS RESPONSE (C.S.C.R.) • CERTIFICATION IN UNIVERSITY CRISIS RESPONSE (C.U.C.R) • CERTIFICATION IN CORPORATE CRISIS RESPONSE (C.C.C.R.) CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION FOR CERTFICATION IN CRISIS MANAGEMENT SPECIALTIES Use of Specialty Area Credentials Members who achieve a certification through the Traumatic Stress Specialties or Crisis Management Specialties program may use either of the following credentials and description to denote their achievement depending on which type of specialty certification achieved: FOR MEMBERS ACHIEVING CERTIFICATION THROUGH THE TRAUMATIC STRESS SPECIALITIES PROGRAM: Robert J. Miller, Ph.D., C.M.V.T. Certified in Motor Vehicle Trauma American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress in collaboration with the National Center for Crisis Management FOR MEMBERS ACHIEVING CERTIFICATION THROUGH THE CRISIS MANAGEMENT SPECIALITIES PROGRAM: Robert J. Miller, Ph.D., C.S.C.R. Certified in School Crisis Response National Center for Crisis Management in collaboration with the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress

Former councilman gets prison for sex with teenager

Former councilman gets prison for sex with teenager

http://daanetwork.blogspot.com/2010/09/former-councilman-gets-prison-for-sex....

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A former suburban San Antonio city council member has received a 10-year prison term for having sex with a 14-year-old girl.
Jeffrey Ellis pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a child last month under terms of a plea deal with Bexar County prosecutors. The 44-year-old former Helotes councilman blamed alcohol abuse for what he called one-time-only misbehavior.
Ellis resigned his office one week after his May 2009 arrest by federal marshals in Albuquerque, N.M., where he was visiting his parents. Prosecutors say Ellis had sex with the underaged daughter of a family friend at his home in Helotes.
Helotes is located about 14 miles northwest of San Antonio.

Information from: San Antonio Express-News, http://www.mysanantonio.com

Effects of Domestic Violence on Children and Adolescents: An Overview Joseph S. Volpe, Ph.D., B.C.E.T.S. Director, Professional Development

http://www.aaets.org/article8.htm Effects of Domestic Violence on Children and Adolescents: An Overview Joseph S. Volpe, Ph.D., B.C.E.T.S. Director, Professional Development Nationwide Crisis Line and Hotline Directory I. What Is Domestic Violence? In the past two decades, there has been growing recognition of the prevalence of domestic violence in our society. Moreover, it has become apparent that some individuals are at greater risk for victimization than others. Domestic violence has adverse effects on individuals, families, and society in general. Domestic violence includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, and abuse to property and pets (Ganley, 1989). Exposure to this form of violence has considerable potential to be perceived as life-threatening by those victimized and can leave them with a sense of vulnerability, helplessness, and in extreme cases, horror. Physical abuse refers to any behavior that involves the intentional use of force against the body of another person that risks physical injury, harm, and/or pain (Dutton, 1992). Physical abuse includes pushing, hitting, slapping, choking, using an object to hit, twisting of a body part, forcing the ingestion of an unwanted substance, and use of a weapon. Sexual abuse is defined as any unwanted sexual intimacy forced on one individual by another. It may include oral, anal, or vaginal stimulation or penetration, forced nudity, forced exposure to sexually explicit material or activity, or any other unwanted sexual activity (Dutton, 1994). Compliance may be obtained through actual or threatened physical force or through some other form of coercion. Psychological abuse may include derogatory statements or threats of further abuse (e.g., threats of being killed by another individual). It may also involve isolation, economic threats, and emotional abuse. II. Prevalence of Domestic Violence Domestic violence is widespread and occurs among all socioeconomic groups. In a national survey of over 6,000 American families, it was estimated that between 53% and 70% of male batterers (i.e., they assaulted their wives) also frequently abused their children (Straus & Gelles, 1990). Other research suggests that women who have been hit by their husbands were twice as likely as other women to abuse a child (CWP, 1995). Over 3 million children are at risk of exposure to parental violence each year (Carlson, 1984). Children from homes where domestic violence occurs are physically or sexually abused and/or seriously neglected at a rate 15 times the national average (McKay, 1994). Approximately, 45% to 70% of battered women in shelters have reported the presence of child abuse in their home (Meichenbaum, 1994). About two-thirds of abused children are being parented by battered women (McKay, 1994). Of the abused children, they are three times more likely to have been abused by their fathers. Studies of the incidence of physical and sexual violence in the lives of children suggest that this form of violence can be viewed as a serious public health problem. State agencies reported approximately 211,000 confirmed cases of child physical abuse and 128,000 cases of child sexual abuse in 1992. At least 1,200 children died as a result of maltreatment. It has been estimated that about 1 in 5 female children and 1 in 10 male children may experience sexual molestation (Regier & Cowdry, 1995). III. Domestic Violence as a Cause of Traumatic Stress As the incidence of interpersonal violence grows in our society, so does the need for investigation of the cognitive, emotional and behavioral consequences produced by exposure to domestic violence, especially in children. Traumatic stress is produced by exposure to events that are so extreme or severe and threatening, that they demand extraordinary coping efforts. Such events are often unpredicted and uncontrollable. They overwhelm a person's sense of safety and security. Terr (1991) has described "Type I" and "Type II" traumatic events. Traumatic exposure may take the form of single, short-term event (e.g., rape, assault, severe beating) and can be referred to as "Type I" trauma. Traumatic events can also involve repeated or prolonged exposure (e.g., chronic victimization such as child sexual abuse, battering); this is referred to as "Type II" trauma. Research suggests that this latter form of exposure tends to have greater impact on the individual's functioning. Domestic violence is typically ongoing and therefore, may fit the criteria for a Type II traumatic event. With repeated exposure to traumatic events, a proportion of individuals may develop Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD involves specific patterns of avoidance and hyperarousal. Individuals with PTSD may begin to organize their lives around their trauma. Although most people who suffer from PTSD (especially, in severe cases) have considerable interpersonal and academic/occupational problems, the degree to which symptoms of PTSD interfere with overall functioning varies a great deal from person to person. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition (DSM-IV; APA, 1994) stipulates that in order for an individual to be diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder, he or she must have experienced or witnessed a life-threatening event and reacted with intense fear, helplessness, or horror. The traumatic event is persistently reexperienced (e.g., distressing recollections), there is persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, and the victim experiences some form of hyperarousal (e.g., exaggerated startle response). These symptoms persist for more than one month and cause clinically significant impairment in daily functioning. When the disturbance lasts a minimum of two days and as long as four weeks from the traumatic event, Acute Stress Disorder may be a more accurate diagnosis. It has been suggested that responses to traumatic experience(s) can be divided into at least four categories (for a complete review, see Meichenbaum, 1994). Emotional responses include shock, terror, guilt, horror, irritability, anxiety, hostility, and depression. Cognitive responses are reflected in significant concentration impairment, confusion, self-blame, intrusive thoughts about the traumatic experience(s) (also referred to as flashbacks), lowered self-efficacy, fears of losing control, and fear of reoccurrence of the trauma. Biologically-based responses involve sleep disturbance (i.e., insomnia), nightmares, an exaggerated startle response, and psychosomatic symptoms. Behavioral responses include avoidance, social withdrawal, interpersonal stress (decreased intimacy and lowered trust in others), and substance abuse. The process through which the individual has coped prior to the trauma is arrested; consequently, a sense of helplessness is often maintained (Foy, 1992). IV. Possible Signs and Symptoms of Domestic Violence in Children and Adolescents More than half of the school-age children in domestic violence shelters show clinical levels of anxiety or posttraumatic stress disorder (Graham-Bermann, 1994). Without treatment, these children are at significant risk for delinquency, substance abuse, school drop-out, and difficulties in their own relationships. Children may exhibit a wide range of reactions to exposure to violence in their home. Younger children (e.g., preschool and kindergarten) oftentimes, do not understand the meaning of the abuse they observe and tend to believe that they "must have done something wrong." Self-blame can precipitate feelings of guilt, worry, and anxiety. It is important to consider that children, especially younger children, typically do not have the ability to adequately express their feelings verbally. Consequently, the manifestation of these emotions are often behavioral. Children may become withdrawn, non-verbal, and exhibit regressed behaviors such as clinging and whining. Eating and sleeping difficulty, concentration problems, generalized anxiety, and physical complaints (e.g., headaches) are all common. Unlike younger children, the pre-adolescent child typically has greater ability to externalize negative emotions (i.e., to verbalize). In addition to symptoms commonly seen with childhood anxiety (e.g., sleep problems, eating disturbance, nightmares), victims within this age group may show a loss of interest in social activities, low self-concept, withdrawal or avoidance of peer relations, rebelliousness and oppositional-defiant behavior in the school setting. It is also common to observe temper tantrums, irritability, frequent fighting at school or between siblings, lashing out at objects, treating pets cruelly or abusively, threatening of peers or siblings with violence (e.g., "give me a pen or I will smack you"), and attempts to gain attention through hitting, kicking, or choking peers and/or family members. Incidentally, girls are more likely to exhibit withdrawal and unfortunately, run the risk of being "missed" as a child in need of support. Adolescents are at risk of academic failure, school drop-out, delinquency, and substance abuse. Some investigators have suggested that a history of family violence or abuse is the most significant difference between delinquent and non delinquent youth. An estimated 1/5 to 1/3 of all teenagers who are involved in dating relationships are regularly abusing or being abused by their partners verbally, mentally, emotionally, sexually, and/or physically (SASS, 1996). Between 30% and 50% of dating relationships can exhibit the same cycle of escalating violence as marital relationships (SASS, 1996). V. Helping Children and Adolescents Exposed to Domestic Violence For some children and adolescents, questions about home life may be difficult to answer, especially if the individual has been "warned" or threatened by a family member to refrain from "talking to strangers" about events that have taken place in the family. Referrals to the appropriate school personnel could be the first step in assisting the child or teen in need of support. When there is suggestion of domestic violence with a student, consider involving the school psychologist, social worker, guidance counselor and/or a school administrator (when indicated). Although the circumstances surrounding each case may vary, suspicion of child abuse is required to be reported to the local child protection agency by teachers and other school personnel. In some cases, a contact with the local police department may also be necessary. When in doubt, consult with school team members. If the child expresses a desire to talk, provide them with an opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings. In addition to talking, they may be also encouraged to write in a journal, draw, or paint; these are all viable means for facilitating expression in younger children. Adolescents are typically more abstract in their thinking and generally have better developed verbal abilities than younger children. It could be helpful for adults who work with teenagers to encourage them to talk about their concerns without insisting on this expression. Listening in a warm, non-judgmental, and genuine manner is often comforting for victims and may be an important first step in their seeking further support. When appropriate, individual and/or group counseling should be considered at school if the individual is amenable. Referrals for counseling (e.g., family counseling) outside of the school should be made to the family as well. Providing a list of names and phone numbers to contact in case of a serious crisis can be helpful. References American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author. Carlson, B. E. (1984). Children's observations of interpersonal violence. In A. R. Edwards (Ed.), Battered women and their families (pp. 147-167). New York: Springer. Child Welfare Partnership (1995). Domestic violence summary: The intersection of child abuse and domestic violence. Published by Portland State University. Dutton, M.A. (1994). Post-traumatic therapy with domestic violence survivors. In M.B. Williams & J.F. Sommer (Eds.), Handbook of post-traumatic therapy (pp. 146-161). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. Dutton, M.A. (1992). Women's response to battering: Assessment and intervention. New York: Springer. Foy, D.W. (1992). Introduction and description of the disorder. In D. W. Foy (Ed.), Treating PTSD: Cognitive-Behavioral strategies (pp 1-12). New York: Guilford. Ganley, A. (1989). Integrating feminist and social learning analyses of aggression: Creating multiple models for intervention with men who battered. In P. Caesar & L. Hamberger (Eds.), Treating men who batter (pp. 196-235). New York: Springer. Graham-Bermann, S. (1994). Preventing domestic violence. University of Michigan research information index. UM-Research-WEB@umich.edu. McKay, M. (1994). The link between domestic violence and child abuse: Assessment and treatment considerations. Child Welfare League of America, 73, 29-39. Meichenbaum, D. (1994). A clinical handbook/practical therapist manual for assessing and treating adults with post-traumatic stress disorder. Ontario, Canada: Institute Press.

Enraged man kills estranged wife, 4 stepchildren

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39377802/ns/us_news/

By KELLI KENNEDY, MATT SEDENSKY

updated 9/27/2010 6:39:17 PM ET

•  

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. — A man who terrorized his estranged wife for months, threatening her with a knife and telling her she would end up in the morgue, killed the woman and four of his stepchildren during a middle-of-the-night rampage, police said Monday.

Patrick Dell, 41, and his wife, 36-year-old Natasha Whyte-Dell, had been going through a bitter divorce, and it appears he targeted her and his stepchildren, police said. However, Dell spared his biological 1- and 3-year-old children. A fifth stepchild, 15-year-old Ryan Barnett, also was shot in the house but was expected to survive.

Friends and neighbors said Whyte-Dell time after time took the man back — even though he had installed cameras to keep an eye on her and stalked her when she went to work and nursing school. She filed a restraining order against him in May after learning he was trying to get a gun.

The horror that unfolded around 2 a.m. Monday was the culmination of a lengthy dispute that came to a head Dec. 20, when Whyte-Dell said her husband came after her with a knife, slashed her tires and scratched an "X" into the concrete driveway.

He made a particularly chilling threat: "You will be going to the morgue," he told her, according to a police report. "Your family is going to cry today."

After that incident — five days before Christmas — Whyte Dell told police she feared for her life. Dell was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal mischief. But he was released hours later without bond, said Riviera Beach Police spokeswoman Rose Ann Brown.

The Department of Children and Families investigated after the knife attack, but closed the case in February without removing the children, spokeswoman Elisa Cramer said.

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 time after time, friends said Whyte-Dell took her husband back, hoping things would get better.front of the crime scene crying. "He was extremely jealous, obsessive and possessive.
"Dell seemed paranoid, a neighbor said, always thinking someone was against him. On Sunday, while he was at a club, he was asked to leave after making a drunken threat.

"He was talking about chopping up somebody," said neighbor Keisha Gordon, 30.

Gordon said she left the club with Dell and went to a nearby park, the last place Gordon saw him before the shootings.

A police officer was checking a suspicious vehicle around 2 a.m. when he heard what sounded like muffled gun shots, Riviera Beach Police spokeswoman Rose Anne Brown said. When officers approached the home, Dell went outside and shot himself, she said.

Inside the home, officers found the bodies of the woman and her four children: 10-year-old Daniel Barnett; 11-year-old Javon Nelson; 13-year-old Diane Barnett; and 14-year-old Bryan Barnett.

The small home where the killings happened was a popular hangout for neighborhood kids, who loved using the front-yard basketball hoop and closeness to a trim cemetery across the street that often was used as a park. Just a few doors down sits an immaculate red-brick church.

On Monday, a silver chain-link fence had been tangled with yellow crime-scene tape. A black mailbox was on a post outside with a single balloon in the shape of a red heart tied to it.

Neighbors said gunshots had become an all-too-common sound in the area. Jeanette Walker, a 56-year-old hairstylist who lives nearby, said she thought nothing of the gunfire because she heard no sirens.

"They over there shooting at each other again," she remembered thinking.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7218827.html

Pregnant woman, boyfriend murdered same night

By PAIGE HEWITT and SARAH RASLAN 
HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Sept. 27, 2010, 7:30PM

Family photo

Leiah Jackson was working toward a master's degree.

MISSOURI CITY — Police have identified the body of a man found dead early Sunday outside a Houston apartment as the boyfriend of a pregnant woman who was stabbed to death the same day.

Officials believe Yancey Daniels, 30, was shot in the torso at about 12:30 a.m., half an hour before his pregnant girlfriend, Leiah Jackson, 27, was attacked and stabbed 22 times with a butcher’s knife at her Missouri City home.

More than nine hours later a woman spotted Daniels’ body while leaving an apartment on the 6300 block of West Airport Boulevard at 9:55 a.m, according to the Houston Police Department.

He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was lying on the sidewalk, underneath a bush, police said.

Missouri City police are questioning a man who may be connected to both slayings.

Jackson, an elementary school nurse's aide, was attacked around 1 a.m. at her Missouri City fourplex in the 3300 block of Palm Desert Lane, family members said.

She was stabbed more than 20 times with a butcher's knife. Her unborn boy due to be born in a few weeks was also killed.

“Houston police are holding our person of interest,“ said Capt. John Bailey of the Missouri City Police Department.

Bailey said he could not disclose the man's name because he has not been arrested in the case. The also would not say why police consider the man a “person of interest“ or if the man knew Jackson or Daniels.

However, he acknowledged that the woman knew her attacker.

The investigation into both incidents is ongoing. Anyone with any information is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

 Jackson's cousin was stunned at the woman's death.

“For a young lady, a pregnant young lady, to be killed like this is tough,“ said her cousin Tommy Jackson. “This is so tough. She was happy-go-lucky.“

After being brutally attacked, Jackson walked out of her garage, along the driveway and to the front door of the nearby unit where her mother lives, leaving pools of blood along the way, relatives said.

She banged on the front door; her mother initially thought something was wrong with the baby — until she saw the stab wounds, Tommy Jackson said.

Leiah Jackson then told her mother that the attacker was a relative of the unborn boy's father, family members said. Police would not comment on the suspect's identity.

Jackson was airlifted to a hospital, where she and the unborn baby died, Missouri City police Sgt. Brandon Harris said.

Tommy Jackson said Sunday evening that Leiah Jackon's family members had not heard from the unborn child's father and had not met his relatives.

The pregnant woman, whom relatives described as a giving person, was working toward a master's degree in counseling.

Longtime friend Jonathan Wykoff recalled Jackson as a young woman with a good heart who happened also to be beautiful.

“She was like a beacon of light,“ he said. “She was like a sister to me. She had been talking about her baby showers and everything. This was unnecessary. I'm still in shock.“

Peter Ntege, who worked with Jackson at Jones Elementary in Fort Bend ISD, said she was happy and eager to become a mother.

“She was a fantastic person, always happy and always had a smile on her face,“ he said. “She was super excited about the baby.“

paige.hewitt@chron.com 
sarah.raslan@chron.com

Break the Cycle Programs for Domestic Violence

http://www.breakthecycle.org/policy-programs

Dating Violence Policy Programs

Break the Cycle advocates for policy and legislative change to better protect the rights and promote the health of young people nationwide. Advocating for prevention, intervention and school policies, we improve the capacity of youth-serving systems.

Why a Teen Dating Violence Policy Program?

Young people experience the highest rates of dating violence, but don't have access to targeted services as adults do.

With budget deficits and cuts in funding for social programs across the country, we must work even harder to ensure that young people get the help they need:

• Teens must be taught that dating violence is unacceptable.
• They need services tailored to their unique needs.
• Once those services are in place, they must be promoted to youth.
• Teens deserve access to the same legal protections that adults have.

What Does it Accomplish?

If we do not act, today's young victims and perpetrators of abuse will be in the adult criminal, civil and family justice systems tomorrow. We have the opportunity to invest in youth and protect them from violence, all while saving countless federal dollars.

Every young person deserves to have safe and healthy relationships. By making policy improvements, we have the ability to give thousands of teens the information they need to avoid abuse.

Get Involved

Learn more about the policy needs of teens experiencing dating violence and sexual assault. Become a Policy Makerand help address those needs.

thesafespace.org- Online Programs

Online Programs

A program of Break the Cycle, thesafespace.org is the most comprehensive online resource for youth to learn about dating abuse. On the site, youth can:

• Ask confidential, anonymous questions about dating violence
• Learn the facts about abuse
• Find out ways to protect themselves or someone they know
• Get involved in the movement to end domestic violence
• Connect with local resources

Learn more about this innovative resource and its many features, available in English and Spanish.

http://www.breakthecycle.org/legal-help-services

Legal Services for Domestic Violence

Legal Services

Break the Cycle provides young victims of dating violence in Washington, DC with legal services to help them find safety and pursue justice. Contact Break the Cycle at 202.824.0707 or legalservices@breakthecycle.org if you are:

• 12 to 24 years old
• Living in the DC Metropolitan Area
• Experiencing abuse

Among our many other services, we can help you create a safety plan and obtain arestraining order.

[Ending Violence]

[Ending Violence]

After more than a decade of facilitating evidence-based prevention workshops, Break the Cycle is proud to introduce [Ending Violence] - an innovative dating violence prevention curriculum that puts Break the Cycle’s expertise and experience directly into your hands.Buy now!

Safely and smartly connecting with teens, [Ending Violence] helps you teach youth how to:

• Prevent and safely end abusive relationships
• Understand their legal rights and responsibilities
• Create a framework for building healthy relationships in the future

[Ending Violence]’s content can be easily presented using the interactive DVD format – incorporating video segments, interactive classroom activities, discussion prompts, animation, role play activities and extended research projects. The [Ending Violence] package also includes:

• A comprehensive Educator's Guide
• A self-guided resource for students
• A video presentation for adults who want to learn about teen dating abuse
• Classroom materials that help raise awareness about domestic and dating abuse
• Exclusive access to handouts, activities, and support via the [Ending Violence] microsite
• A Spanish-language version of the entire curriculum and accompanying materials

Break the Cycle designed [Ending Violence] to be easily modified to your teaching style, timeframe and students. Whether you work in a middle or high school, whether you feel comfortable speaking about dating abuse or need a little extra support, whether you have 20 minutes or an entire semester, Break the Cycle's [Ending Violence] gives YOU the power to implement a powerful domestic and dating violence prevention program in your school and community!

[Ending Violence] | Break the Cycle

[Ending Violence] | Break the Cycle

[Ending Violence]

After more than a decade of facilitating evidence-based prevention workshops, Break the Cycle is proud to introduce [Ending Violence] - an innovative dating violence prevention curriculum that puts Break the Cycle’s expertise and experience directly into your hands.Buy now!

Safely and smartly connecting with teens, [Ending Violence] helps you teach youth how to:

• Prevent and safely end abusive relationships
• Understand their legal rights and responsibilities
• Create a framework for building healthy relationships in the future

[Ending Violence]’s content can be easily presented using the interactive DVD format – incorporating video segments, interactive classroom activities, discussion prompts, animation, role play activities and extended research projects. The [Ending Violence] package also includes:

• A comprehensive Educator's Guide
• A self-guided resource for students
• A video presentation for adults who want to learn about teen dating abuse
• Classroom materials that help raise awareness about domestic and dating abuse
• Exclusive access to handouts, activities, and support via the [Ending Violence] microsite
• A Spanish-language version of the entire curriculum and accompanying materials

Break the Cycle designed [Ending Violence] to be easily modified to your teaching style, timeframe and students. Whether you work in a middle or high school, whether you feel comfortable speaking about dating abuse or need a little extra support, whether you have 20 minutes or an entire semester, Break the Cycle's [Ending Violence] gives YOU the power to implement a powerful domestic and dating violence prevention program in your school and community!

Pope Benedict apologizes for child abuse

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=114369868619700&topic=39

 

Domestic Abuse Awareness Network Here is an article on the subject..You decide!

Pope Benedict apologizes for child abuse

LONDON (Reuters) – Pope Benedict apologized to victims of sexual abuse on Saturday, saying pedophile priests had brought “shame and humiliation” on him and the entire Roman Catholic Church.

At the start of his third day in Britain, the pope celebrated a Mass for some 2,000 people in Westminster Cathedral, the mother church for Roman Catholics in England and Wales and a symbol of the struggle of Catholics to assert their rights after the Reformation.

It was the 83-year-old pontiff's latest attempt to come to grips with the scandal that has rocked the 1.1 billion-member Church, particularly in Europe and the United States.

A crowd of thousands, the largest of the trip so far, began a march from Hyde Park to Downing Street, the prime minister's official residence, to protest the visit.

“I think of the immense suffering caused by the abuse of children, especially within the Church and by her ministers. Above all, I express my deep sorrow to the innocent victims of these unspeakable crimes ...,” he said in his sermon in the towering cathedral built in the late 19th century.

“I also acknowledge with you the shame and humiliation that all of us have suffered because of these sins,” he said, adding that he hoped “this chastisement” would contribute to the healing of the victims and the purification of the Church.

He has apologized before for sexual abuse by priests and has acknowledged that the Church was slow to deal with the problem. But his comments on Saturday were among his most direct.

Still, victims groups said they were not satisfied, with one named Bishops Accountability calling it “public relations not penitence.”

Another group, SNAP, said: That's what we find so painful and inexplicable -- why, if the pope feels so much remorse, won't he take action? Vulnerable kids need predator priests removed. Wounded victims need corrupt bishops exposed. That's what matters. That's what the Pope won't do.”

The pope, who flies to Birmingham in central England on Sunday, began his last day in London by holding separate meetings with Prime Minister David Cameron, deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and acting opposition leader Harriet Harman.

It was during Harman's tenure as a minister in the previous Labour government that the pope condemned an equality bill going through parliament that would have forced churches to hire homosexuals or transsexuals. The provision was later defeated.

Clegg is a professed atheist but is married to a Spanish Roman Catholic who is raising their children in the Church.

Security after arrests

On Friday, anti-terrorism police, on high alert for the pope's visit, arrested six men in London on suspicion of preparing an attack.

British broadcaster Sky cited unnamed sources as saying the six were Algerian but police said they could not comment on the report and the Algerian embassy said it had not been notified of the arrests of any of its nationals.

Police, who also searched eight homes and two businesses in London, reviewed security arrangements after the arrests but decided they remained appropriate.

The BBC reported that the men had posed “a possible threat to the pope” but police refused to confirm or deny that. The Vatican said the trip would go ahead as planned.

After visiting a Catholic home for the elderly, the pope concludes his last day in London by presiding at a prayer service expected to draw some 85,000 people in Hyde Park.

He will spend his last day in Britain on Sunday in Birmingham, where he will beatify Cardinal John Henry Newman, one of the most prominent English converts from Anglicanism to Catholicism.

Newman, who lived from 1801 to 1890 and became a Catholic in 1845, was a central figure in the Oxford Movement, which tried to move the Church of England closer to Rome. He is revered in both the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches.

Dad faces child abuse charges for leaving infant in car in Macomb Twp. - Detroit

Dad faces child abuse charges for leaving infant in car in Macomb Twp. - Detroit

Christine Ferretti / The Detroit News

Macomb Township -- Sheriff officials say charges have been approved for a 20-year-old Clinton Township man accused of abandoning his infant daughter in the family minivan outside a mobile home park on Saturday. 
Macomb County Sheriff Department Capt. John Roberts said the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office has authorized child abuse charges for the man, who is not yet in police custody. His name is being withheld. 

Roberts said the man's wife said she last saw her husband around 2:50 p.m. Saturday when he dropped her off at work. The woman later received a phone call around 10 p.m. from a concerned friend alerting her that the family's van and the baby appeared to be parked at the Hometown Macomb mobile home community near Hall and Card roads. 
The wife, who is not being identified, contacted a relative who resides in the mobile home park. That relative found the van unlocked, with the keys in the ignition and the 1-year-old girl inside. Roberts said police believe the father left the child in that area, knowing a relative lived there. 
It is unclear how long the infant was left alone inside the car, but police know the father did return to the couple's home to gather undisclosed items. 
Roberts said no charges will be filed against the mother. 
The child was not injured and is currently in good health. 

From The Detroit News:http://www.detnews.com/article/20100930/METRO03/9300453/1361/Dad-faces-child-abuse-charges-for-leaving-infant-in-car-in-Macomb-Twp.#ixzz111XLXq5c

Love tragedy motivates domestic violence bill

Love tragedy motivates domestic violence bill

The General Assembly is debating legislation that will extend protections to victims of abusive relationships. Virginia Del. Joe Morrissey, D-Henrico County, is planning to introduce legislation early next year in response to last May’s Yeardley Love tragedy — a fatal example of domestic violence in a university setting.
Currently, protective orders are granted against two types of perpetrators: individuals charged with stalking, threatening or harming the victim, and members of the same household as the victim. Morrissey’s proposal, though, would change the law to cover any individuals suffering in abusive relationships, thus removing legal requirements such as cohabitation from the provision.
“In my legislation, there will be no specific requirement,” Morrissey said. “It will focus instead on the behavior of the aggressor.”
Morrissey said the catalyst for his proposal was the death of Virginia lacrosse player Yeardley Love, who allegedly was involved in an abusive relationship with George Huguely before he beat her to death in her 14th Street apartment May 3.
“Unfortunately, Yeardley’s death has brought this to a head,” he said, adding that the incident serves as an example of how the bill could provide a tool for victims of abusive relationships in the future.
A similar bill was proposed in the Assembly last year, said Virginia Del. Robert Bell, R-Albemarle County. It was sent to the Assembly’s Crime Commission and was debated by police officers, domestic violence advocates and attorney general representatives, but failed to win approval.
Delegates are currently trying to identify possible stumbling blocks with this year’s bill, Bell said.
“One of the thoughts would be … to enable others who are not family or household members to obtain protective orders under other [inapplicable] circumstances,” he said.
It also is possible that passing the bill would lead to a sudden spike in the number of requested protective orders and how they would be handled.
“Everyone in law enforcement is concerned with providing protection without swamping the system to the point where they can’t provide protection to those who need it,” Bell said. “If that happens, there would be thousands upon thousands of protective orders.”
Legislators such as Bell hope to balance the number of police officers and a backlog of orders that could potentially overwhelm them. “If you spread them too thin, you won’t be able to enforce the protective orders you’re really worried about,” he said.

Keep Shelters of Domestic Abuse Open

Keep Shelters of Domestic Abuse Open

National Organization for Women or NOW, recently issued an action alert involving the fact that the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), expired in 2008 and desperately needs to be reauthorized this year. There is a Senate committee that is presently drafting its version, but House bill (H.R. 4116), sponsored by Gwen Moore, (D-Wis.), is in need of everyone's support.
NOW is urging the public to contact their representatives, and tell them to sponsor this bill that will reauthorize and improve the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act. Thank your representatives if they are already co-sponsors.
Exactly what is FVPSA? It is a "federal program that funds domestic violence shelters and supports services such as counseling, crisis hotlines, basic needs and legal advocacy for survivors of domestic abuse," according to NOW. If Congress does not reauthorize FVPSA, more than 2,000 shelters in the U.S. and millions of women and children might well be left without assistance. NOW says that the economic recession is contributing to more abusive behavior, and therefore support of these shelters is essential. 
Talk to Women Like You Get the conversation going by starting a group Create a Group Now FVPSA was passed in 1984 as part of the Child Abuse Amendment. It was part of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 1994, and again approved in 2003 as part of the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act. If indeed it is reauthorized in 2010, FVPSA will approve $250 million a year for shelters and outreach organizations that assist survivors of domestic violence. It will help with new programs to prevent children in abusive homes from carrying on the cycle of violence as adults. It will finance intervention, job training for survivors of domestic abuse, school prevention projects, and development of parenting skills. It will update the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
NOW says, "With domestic violence affecting so many women and children, NOW activists must demand that Congress pass the FVPSA reauthorization (H.R. 4116) in order to provide support to survivors of abuse and also to prevent domestic violence from continuing.
http://www.empowher.com/domestic-abuse/content/keep-shelters-domestic-abuse-open

Domestic Abuse Awareness Network: Keep Shelters of Domestic Abuse Open

Keep Shelters of Domestic Abuse Open: "National Organization for Women or NOW, recently issued an action alert involving the fact that the Family Violence Prevention and Service..."

Keep Shelters of Domestic Abuse Open

National Organization for Women or NOW, recently issued an action alert involving the fact that the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), expired in 2008 and desperately needs to be reauthorized this year. There is a Senate committee that is presently drafting its version, but House bill (H.R. 4116), sponsored by Gwen Moore, (D-Wis.), is in need of everyone's support.
NOW is urging the public to contact their representatives, and tell them to sponsor this bill that will reauthorize and improve the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act. Thank your representatives if they are already co-sponsors.
Exactly what is FVPSA? It is a "federal program that funds domestic violence shelters and supports services such as counseling, crisis hotlines, basic needs and legal advocacy for survivors of domestic abuse," according to NOW. If Congress does not reauthorize FVPSA, more than 2,000 shelters in the U.S. and millions of women and children might well be left without assistance. NOW says that the economic recession is contributing to more abusive behavior, and therefore support of these shelters is essential.
Talk to Women Like You Get the conversation going by starting a group Create a Group Now FVPSA was passed in 1984 as part of the Child Abuse Amendment. It was part of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 1994, and again approved in 2003 as part of the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act. If indeed it is reauthorized in 2010, FVPSA will approve $250 million a year for shelters and outreach organizations that assist survivors of domestic violence. It will help with new programs to prevent children in abusive homes from carrying on the cycle of violence as adults. It will finance intervention, job training for survivors of domestic abuse, school prevention projects, and development of parenting skills. It will update the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
NOW says, "With domestic violence affecting so many women and children, NOW activists must demand that Congress pass the FVPSA reauthorization (H.R. 4116) in order to provide support to survivors of abuse and also to prevent domestic violence from continuing.
http://www.empowher.com/domestic-abuse/content/keep-shelters-domestic-abuse-open

Global human trafficking roundup (September 30, 2010)

Global human trafficking roundup (September 30, 2010)

NORTH AMERICA
Illinois: A doctor faces house arrest for buying sex from underage girls through a sex trafficking ring. According to the report,he is he is charged with "sex trafficking of a child, aiding and abetting sex trafficking of a child, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of a controlled substance."
Georgia: A 36 year old man was sentenced 17 years in federal prison for sex trafficking minors. According to the report, he sold the minors on the adult website for commercial sex. His 17 year jail sentence will be followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $60,400 to the victims.
Alabama: An owner and her two employees of a massage parlor were indicted yesterday on sex trafficking charges. According to the report, the three women are accused of illegally bringing foreign women from abroad and used them for prostitution.
California:   Police arrested a suspected pimp who trafficked teenagers and forced them into prostitution. According to the report, he allegedly kidnapped a 14 year old girl earlier this week as well as kidnapping others in the past. He is currently under police custody.
District of Columbia: Washington Post announced that it will no longer accept massage parlor ads on its newspaper. In the past, Washington Post used discretionary policy in regards to accepting advertisement for massage parlor businesses. However, as it recognized the illegal businesses conducted in legal establishments, Washington Post decided to change its stand on advertisement policy for massage parlors.

For Global human trafficking round up
http://www.examiner.com/human-rights-in-national/global-human-trafficking-roundup-september-30-2010