Visit the Crisis Shelter’s newest website, http://www.fightforzero.org, that enables victims of domestic violence to chat live with a professional, without charge, 24 hours a day.  This site provides instant support and feedback to those seeking help through a chat room and/or email capability.  It also offers domestic violence and sexual assault facts and information, a free risk assessment and directions for next steps and safety planning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdQnuoAK-68

The chat room is unique in that it is completely anonymous and confidential.  The site was designed with these factors being a major consideration in the planning. If a visitor to the site prefers email to chat, they can simply send an email and a trained professional will respond immediately.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imtjzTYss4c

Although this website offers round the clock support, it is not meant to replace the 24 – hour hotline;  it simply adds another avenue for support.

Shelter staff members spoke to organizations/agencies to acquaint them with this FIGHT FOR ZERO initiative and what the Crisis Shelter offers and how to access it.  Part of the initiative is to get people to become more active bystanders so that if they know someone who may need Crisis Shelter services we are asking them to point them to our website or hotline.  This website requires additional staffing for chats and emails;  if you would like to help in this area, volunteers are offered an 80-hour training to assist in responding to chats and emails.

If interested in helping or to obtain more information, email volunteer@crisisshelter.org.

As a result of an award of a $60,000 grant from the Heinz Endowments the Crisis Shelter is able to offer an anti-violence program, SAVE^4,  to students in all county schools.  Heinz was happy to partner with the Crisis Shelter with this comprehensive school-based violence prevention program, SAVE^4.  The mission of the Heinz Endowments is to promote progress in economic opportunity, arts and culture; education; children; youth and families; and the environment.  They seek to accomplish this goal by supporting organizations and programs that show promise for contributing to one or more of these program areas.

The Heinz Endowments supports efforts to make southwestern Pennsylvania a premier place to live and work, a center for learning and educational excellence, and a region that embraces diversity and inclusion.  

The Students Against Violence Everywhere – SAVE^4 – program focuses on engaging, empowering, encouraging and educating students regarding violence issues and providing them with a venue to change the internal culture of their learning environment.  “This program empowers students to get involved and be part of positive change and make their school a safer place,” said Sear. 

In an effort to combat violence within the learning environment, the Crisis Shelter has partnered with Union, Mohawk, and New Castle School Districts to implement this anti-violence programming that educates students and informs parents.  The Pennsylvania State Police assist with the programs.  Issues presented and discussed are bullying, cyber bullying, sexting, dating violence and the laws and legal consequences surrounding these ever growing problems that youth face on a daily basis.  Students from each of these programs will have the opportunity to participate in a two day leadership retreat this summer which is aimed at developing leadership skills and sharing ideas and violence prevention techniques.  

These school districts have made a conscious choice to be proactive regarding these violence issues, and that should be commended,” stated Dayna Shaw Sear, Executive Director of the Crisis Shelter.  “They are  addressing these serious issues at their root cause and are not only providing prevention education within their classrooms but also implementing the Students Against Violence Everywhere program and informing and educating parents and caregivers.” 

Students Against Violence Everywhere gives students a voice to work with teachers and administration to outline safety procedures, develop violence prevention policy, arrange trainings and advocate for broader awareness within their school.  It also encourages students to organize violence prevention programs, co-facilitate lessons and group activities to younger students and serve as ambassadors of the program to other school districts and the community.  “What makes this program unique,” said Sear,” is that it is student centered.  Students identify the problems they are facing and then develop the needed policies and programs to help stop the myriad of violence issues within their school including bullying, dating violence and sexting.”

A new preschool SAVE – Anti-Violence Curriculum has also been developed for Head Start Pre-School and contains lessons on Touching Safety, Bullying and Conflict Management for teachers to incorporate into their lesson plans.

For more information regarding the Students Against Violence Everywhere program or other violence prevention programming available contact the Crisis Shelter at 724-652-9206 x120 or info@crisisshelter.org.