Domestic Abuse and Creativity
Is it possible for creativity to play an active role in preventing domestic abuse? Can creativity heal children affected by Domestic violence? ______________________________________________________________ From a valued reader: Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2011 03:40:46 +0000 > From: creat201@creativityandconflict.com > To: staceymccall@live.com > Subject: Submission from "Contact Us " form in creativityandconflict.com > > On Wed Feb 02 22:36:45 2011, the following results were submitted from the "Contact Us " on creativityandconflict.com: ------------------------------ > First Name: Eric Men are victims of domestic violence as well. If you are to have a general link on domestic violence you probably want to put information on abused men as well. The social stigma associated with men who are abused and report it stops many men from reporting this. Many men are also stopped by fear of being arrested if they do call the police. Not reporting violence by either partner can spell pain and even death for many children, (and their children. The cycle of violence ends with education and full disclosure. > > Men and women both have taken advantage of laws, manipulation and violence is not bound by gender roles. There is quite a bit of information on abused men online. Wikipedia is an excellent starting place. In looking for information on male target abuse you will probably encounter the "lace curtain" or media and educational bias which promotes the demonization of males in favor of women. The recent shootings of children by their mothers should have some place here as well. > > If I can be of any more help, feel free to contact me. Eric Cruit, Thank you Hi Eric: Thank you for your email. I am adding it to the mental health discussions. Please keep writing. I know that abusers can be male or female or anything in between. When I first began the web site it was going to be about domestic abuse because I was volunteering in a shelter. Since then I have become more active in working with kids diagnosed with Autism and other Spectrum disorders. Our readership is growing so if you'd like to write more please send it in with your credits. In fact, I'll post this on the Domestic Abuse and Mental Health Link;-) Thank you for your insights and taking the time to read our site and write to us. Thanks, Stacey _________________________________________________________________
The following information are exercises learned by very brave teachers, advocates, and children. We hope that the non-abusive parent or a teacher/advocate will use these worksheets with children affected by domestic violence. Stacey and Bobby offer referrals for targets of domestic violence within our community. Please feel free to drop us an email (through the contact form) if you would like help with referrals. Only do so if it is safe for you. You may also call the National Domestic Violence Hot Line (NDVH) at: 1−800−799−SAFE(7233) or TTY 1−800−787−3224. SAFETY ALERT! Computer use can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear. If you are afraid your internet and/or computer usage might be monitored, please use a safer computer, Did you know that 1 out of 3 people are affected by Domestic Violence? No one suffers more than the kids.
When we grow up surrounded by violence we generally go two ways. We are either type A's that want to do anything besides being at home and/or alone with ourselves. As children that normally make straight A's, are members and leaders in more than one group, very sociable, volunteer for anything and everything. They are only happy when they are out of the house and working hard. OR They stay at home too much, experience loss of locus control, talk too much, they appear too loud, too boisterous. Fail at school, always in trouble, experiment with drugs, sex, become anti-social, disengage. Sometimes they even become violent themselves or become targets for bullies. 1. Bullying means that two people are punching each other. 2. Bullying usually only happens once. 3. It is useful to have a third party intervene in a bullying situation. 4. A bystander is a person who witnesses bullying. 5. Bullying does not have serious consequences. 6. Spreading rumors is a form of bullying. 7. Keeping the bullying a secret helps the bully. 8. Bullies don't mean to hurt others, its fun. 9. Teachers and parents need help from students to know about the extent of bullying. 10. Bullying does not happen in a circle of friends. (see answers below) 11. Is it bullying if a person calls someone a bad name? ____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ 12. What can someone do when they witness bullying? ___________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ 13. Name two things that you can do if you are bullied. ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ 14. How can you help stop bullying? ______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ (Answers to 1-9) F, F, T, T,F,T,T,T & F, T, F. More coming soon? Please RSS and visit often. Do you Bully Others Quiz: What is Bullying? Who's a Bully? Who's a Target? What if You're Being Bullied? Stop the Bullying!
For more exercises that moms can do with their children or use for themselves please visit:
NEWSWORTHY NEWS Re: Domestic ViolencePlease RSS or bookmark this page. We will continue sharing the latest news here.
SAN RAFAEL- National and local advocacy groups are expressing outrage over what has become a disturbing national trend of divorcing Dads killing their children and themselves. 8-month-old baby Bekm was shot and killed by his father, Nicholas Bacon, in Meridian, Idaho just 48 hours ago, while 9-month-old baby Wyatt was killed by his father Stephen Garcia just ten days ago in San Bernardino County. Details are still emerging about the tragic Idaho murder-suicide of baby Bekm on Monday night. In the Garcia case, three different judges refused multiple requests by the child's mother for restraining orders to protect her child, despite police reports and documented death threats by the father in text messages and on Facebook. "The system failed Wyatt Garcia and Katie Tagle,'' said California Assembly member Jim Beall, Jr., the lead sponsor of Assembly Bill 612, which aims to prevent the use of non-scientific theories in California family courts. "Wyatt's tragic death was completely avoidable." Numerous sources report a significant spike in murder suicides across the country by violent fathers who kill their children and themselves, frequently after mothers' requests for protection of their children are denied by family court judges. In addition, the Leadership Council on Child Abuse & Interpersonal Violence estimates that more than 58,000 children per year in America are ordered by family courts into unsupervised contact with physically or sexually abusive parents following divorce. "The time has come for us as a society to speak out and put a stop to this growing national body count. Across the country, women and children are being killed because of judges' personal biases and junk science that tells them to disbelieve women's legitimate claims and evidence of abuse," said Rita Smith, the Executive Director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. According to court transcripts and eyewitness accounts, judges reacted with disbelief when mother Katie Tagle presented them with evidence of death threats against her son by the father. Judge David Mazurek stated, "I get concerned when there's a pending child custody and visitation issue and in between that, one party or the other claims that there's some violence in between. It raises the court's eyebrows because based on my experience, it's a way for one party to try to gain an advantage over the other," he said. "This attitude permeates the courts, that women are lying about the danger they are in," said Kathleen Russell from the Center for Judicial Excellence. "This attitude causes judges to ignore tangible evidence of death threats and abuse. The abusers' lobby has convinced judges that shared custody is always the answer, and sadly, this case points out how deadly that approach can be," she said. According to a family member who was in the courtroom when Ms. Tagle last sought protection for her son, the judge reportedly said, "One of you is lying, and I think it's you," while pointing at Katie. Transcripts from this hearing are not yet available. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Center for Judicial Excellence are part of a growing national advocacy movement to educate the public as well as litigants, lawmakers, judges, and social service providers about the need for comprehensive family court reform. The Center for Judicial Excellence and their allies worked with California State Senator Mark Leno and others to pass an audit request through the state legislature last July. The California State Auditor is currently investigating the use of court appointees in family courts because of growing evidence that children are being harmed there. The California Legislature is slated to consider additional family court reform bills being presented by the Center and the California Protective Parents Association in the coming months. "We must assess what's happening in our family courts, and that's why I've requested a state audit to take a hard look at the performance and effectiveness of the family court system,'' said Assemblymember Beall. The State Auditor's report about the California Family Courts has an expected release date of June 2010. ***************NCADV - The Mission of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) is to organize for collective power by advancing transformative work, thinking and leadership of communities and individuals working to end the violence in our lives. CJE - The Center for Judicial Excellence (CJE) was established to improve the judiciary's public accountability and strengthen and maintain the integrity of the courts. CJE has made a special commitment to protect the rights of children and other vulnerable populations in the courts.
Sign Your Name on the FVPSA Line! We're calling on local, state, regional and national organizations, companies and government agencies to sign a letter supporting the reauthorization of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act.
Dear Ally: The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence is swinging into action. We are building momentum for our campaign to reauthorize the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA). Please review this letter asking members of the U.S. House of Representatives to co-sponsor the FVPSA bill (H.R. 4116), and sign up to lend your support! FVPSA, the only dedicated federal funding source for domestic violence shelters and services, expired in 2008 and must be swiftly reauthorized. We currently have over 50 co-sponsors, but we need an outpouring of support from the field as we talk to the Administration and walk the halls of Congress seeking support from additional members of Congress, especially Republicans! Our first rounds of meetings have begun, so we hope as many of you as possible can add your organization's name as soon as possible. We'll need national, statewide and community organizations, companies and government agencies from all across the country to make our point. Individuals with prominence are also welcome to endorse. Please send your endorsement, including your full organization name, address, phone number and status as a national, state or community group, to Angela Smith at asmith@nnedv.org, by Friday, February 12, 2010.
FVPSA has arrived...let's get it reauthorized! And, together, we can make every home a safe home. http://www.ncadv.org/files/FVPSA Group Co-Sponsor Request Letter (Feb. 2010).pd http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h4116ih.txt.pdf
Dear allies supporting women’s right and ending violence and poverty, The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence is swinging into action. We are building momentum for our campaign to reauthorize the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act. Please review the attached sign on letter asking House members to co-sponsor the FVPSA bill, HR 4116. FVPSA, the only dedicated federal funding source for domestic violence shelters and services, expired in 2008 and must be swiftly reauthorized. We currently have 50 cosponsors, but we need an outpouring of support from national organizations and the field as we talk to the Administration and walk the halls of Congress seeking support and handing out this letter.
Our first rounds of meetings begin this Tuesday, so we hope as many of you as possible can add your organization’s name before then. We need national, statewide and community organizations from all across the country to make our point. Individuals with prominence on these issues are welcome to endorse as well. The attached letter summarizes the bill and its importance.
Please send your endorsement, including your name and if you are a national, state or community group, to Angela Smith asmith@nnedv.org by COB, Monday, February 1, 2010 if possible. We recognize the short turnaround may make this impossible, so we’ll continue to collect signatories through Friday, February 5.
Please do NOT send your sign on permission to me. For the moment, I am just the messenger. Once we raise the funds to staff and supply web support for the Task Force, we’ll be more automated and all this will be easier.
Thanks for your eternal vigilance and dedication,
Pat Reuss Policy Advisor, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week is on its way to becoming National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month! Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 100 was introduced by Assembly Member Dave Jones (D-Sacramento) and sponsored by CPEDV on January 4, 2010. This resolution would recognize the month of February 2010 as "National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month," and would encourage all Californians to observe the month with programs and activities that promote awareness and prevention of teen dating violence in their communities. This effort mirrors federal legislation (Senate Resolution 373) introduced on December 9, 2009 to expand Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week to the entire month of February. To see the resolution, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/ykfn8xn
TDVAPM Resources and Calendar of Events
CPEDV's Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month resources, including a resource guide, sample press release and calendar of events can now be downloaded under the "Now Available!" section of CPEDV's website homepage (www.cpedv.org).
Study found physical violence often accompanied by attempts to get young women pregnant. MONDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- A new report says that male partners of teenage girls and young women who engage in physical and sexual violence also often try to sabotage the birth control the women are using. The study, which appears online in the January issue of Contraception, also finds that women who experience both birth-control sabotage and violence from their partner are twice as likely to have an unintended pregnancy. "This study highlights an under-recognized phenomenon where male partners actively attempt to promote pregnancy against the will of their female partners," study author Elizabeth Miller, an assistant professor of pediatrics in the University of California at Davis School of Medicine, said in a news release from the school. "Not only is reproductive coercion associated with violence from male partners, but when women report experiencing both reproductive coercion and partner violence, the risk for unintended pregnancy increases significantly." The study was conducted from 2008-2009 at five health clinics that deal with reproductive issues in Northern California. About 1,300 women aged 16 to 29 took part by responding to a computerized survey. About 15 percent said they'd experienced birth-control sabotage, and more than half reported physical or sexual violence from a partner. More than one-third of those who said they had been the victim of partner violence also acknowledged experiencing either pregnancy coercion or birth-control sabotage, the researchers found. "We have known about the association between partner violence and unintended pregnancy for many years," study senior author Jay Silverman, an associate professor of society, human development and health in the Harvard School of Public Health, said in the news release. "What this study shows is that reproductive coercion likely explains why unintended pregnancies are far more common among abused women and teens." More information The National Women's Health Network has more on birth-control sabotage. External Links Disclaimer Logo (SOURCE: University of California at Davis, news release, Jan. 25, 2010) After a month and half since her death, a Hmong woman who has struggled in a violent relationship will receive a traditional Hmong funeral with the help of General Vang Pao. On Saturday, November 28th, Mai See Chang mysteriously died of unknown causes right before her husband, who is currently being held on domestic violence charges, is set to go to trial. Mai See leaves behind four young children. The causes of Mai See's death are still unknown. According to the Hmong tradition, Mai See must be buried by her husband's family. Having a proper funeral is one of the most important rituals for Hmong people because it is believed to have a great impact on the future of the family's children, as well as a positive rebirth for the deceased. In the Hmong culture it is the responsibility of the husband and his family to perform the funeral ceremony so that the soul of the wife might rest with their ancestors. Due to significant issues between the two families, Mai See's parents and siblings have experienced great anguish, because her body has laid unclaimed, without a funeral for over a month. In the month and half that has passed since Mai See's death, the case has received much attention from Hmong community members throughout the Central Valley, as well as from Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Hmong community saw a similar case in La Crosse, Wisconsin where a victim of a domestic violence related murder-suicide was denied a traditional Hmong funeral by her husband's family. However, the issue was resolved with the help of General Vang Pao and the woman was given a funeral a month after her death. "In the Hmong culture, the minute a woman steps from her parents home and is married, the husband's family is spiritually responsible for the wife." says Vaughn Vang, Chair for the Hmong Domestic Violence Core Committee in Wisconsin. "We have an obligation to provide funerals to our women." The Hmong Domestic Violence Core Committee is a council developed and appointed by General Vang Pao to help respond to the issue of domestic violence. After much deliberation and discussion throughout the Hmong community and with the guidance of General Vang Pao, the decision was made that Mai See would have a traditional funeral with the support of the community. This came as a great relief to Mai See's family, who have been agonizing about how they were going to put their daughter's soul to rest. The funeral has been scheduled for this weekend Saturday the 16th through Monday the 18th at Morning Glory Inn 7326 E. Highway 140 Merced, CA 95340. "Valley Crisis Center has sought to mobilize the community to send a very clear message that domestic violence is unacceptable regardless of ethnicity. Hmong women who are victims of this type of violence deserve to be respected and to be buried in a way that reflects that respect." said Genevieve Bardini, Program Manager for Valley Crisis Center. Bardini added, "Not only does this issue impact Mai See's family, it also could send the wrong message to other Hmong women that are experiencing domestic violence, that not only will there be no peace in their lifetime, but there will be no peace in death as well. This could further silence victims and force them to endure violence because they know they will also not be given a proper funeral." Nilda Valmores, Executive Director of My Sister's House, the Central Valley's domestic violence organization which focuses upon addressing the needs of Asian/Pacific Islander women and children commented, "My Sister's House is pleased that with Valley Crisis Center's leadership a resolution was achieved. Mai See's life and death illustrated the power that Asian cultural beliefs and practices impose on relationships, making it difficult to access critical help." Valley Crisis Center, on behalf of Mai See's family, would like to thank General Vang Pao for resolving this issue, with the help of City Councilmen Noah Lor. We would also like to thank the Hmong Council of Fresno and the Hmong Domestic Violence Core Committee of Wisconsin. Also, recognizing The Women's Community of Wausau, Wisconsin, Freedom Inc. of Wisconsin, the Hmong American Women's Association of Wisconsin, My Sister's House of Sacramento, and the National Asian Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence for their guidance and technical assistance throughout this process. We would like to acknowledge Soroptimist International of Merced, Healthy House, the Hmong Sisterhood of Fresno and Merced Lao Family for all their support. We also thank the husband's family for honoring the General's wishes and proceeding with the funeral rituals. Valley Crisis Center would like to express our sincerest gratitude to all the organizations and individuals who have contributed to this effort in order to ensure that Mai See may have peace and that the needs of her children are met during this difficult time.
Valley Crisis Center, a program of Mountain Crisis Services, Inc Contact: Genevieve Bardini, Program ManagerTelephone: (209) 725-7900
Posted by Lynn Rosenthal on January 18, 2010 at 10:20 AM EST All Americans should be heartened by the recent announcement that the Department of Justice, under the leadership of Attorney General Eric Holder, is strengthening its commitment to fighting crimes of violence against Native American women. As part of broader DOJ reforms to dramatically improve public safety in tribal communities, the Attorney General recognized that though there is no "quick fix," we "must continue our efforts with federal, state, and tribal partners to identify solutions to the challenges we face." After holding listening sessions with tribal leaders across the nation, he directed all 44 U.S. Attorneys' Offices with federally recognized tribes in their districts to reinvigorate efforts to combat and prosecute violent crime, particularly against women and children. And he announced an additional $6 million to hire Assistant United States Attorneys-and additional victim specialists-to assist with the ever-growing Indian Country caseload. After all, for Native American women, even "challenges" may be an understatement. On some reservations, violent crime is more than twenty times the national average-but women tend to suffer most. Some tribes face murder rates against Native American women of more than ten times the national average. And tribal leaders say there are countless more victims of domestic violence and sexual assault whose stories may never be told. As President Obama put it at the White House Tribal Nations Conference on November 5, "the shocking and contemptible fact that one in three Native American women will be raped in their lifetimes is an assault on our national conscience that we can no longer ignore." The White House strongly supports efforts to strengthen the capability of law enforcement to address public safety needs on reservations, including the announced Justice Department reforms and the Tribal Law and Order Act. That's why at the Tribal Nations Conference, he commended Attorney General Holder for his efforts to ensure greater safety in tribal communities and thanked Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Chairman Byron Dorgan and Representative Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin for their leadership on this important issue. In his memorandum to U.S. Attorneys, Deputy Attorney General David Ogden explained why the federal government has a responsibility to address the endemic pattern of abuse, assault, and other violence that reservations across the United States face every day. Our unique legal relationship with Native American tribes mandates it. And the 1994 Violence Against Women Act authored by Vice President Biden calls for it. But our national conscience also demands justice.
Only now, we can finally come to expect it, too. Lynn Rosenthal is the White House Advisor on Violence Against Women http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/01/18/native-american-women-a-triumph-justice |
