Sharing stories about being bullied, insecurities about body image, and discussing issues around drugs, alcohol and dating relationships doesn’t sound like the way a typical high school student would want to start their summer vacation.  However, that’s exactly what students who attended The Crisis Shelter of Lawrence County’s first SAVE⁴ Student Leadership Retreat did. SAVE stands for Students Against Violence Everywhere and the power of 4 stands for the 4 E’s of SAVE; engage, empower, educate and encourage.

Students from across the county were invited to attend the retreat themed “Break the Cycle,” which was made possible by a generous grant from the Heinz Endowments. Students from Union, Shenango, Mohawk, Neshannock and the Lawrence County Career and Technical Center came together on June 15^th and 16^th at the Lawrence Crossing campus of Butler County Community College to engage in a unique opportunity for personal growth and leadership skill building while fostering partnerships and sharing ideas with peers.

Through a series of workshops lead by Crisis Shelter staff, students were empowered to be proactive leaders in taking a stand against violence issues in their school and community and were educated with the tools necessary to recognize and diffuse potentially violent situations.  Students freely discussed issues regarding bullying, prejudice, relationships, drugs and alcohol and self-esteem while engaging in workshop sessions to enhance peer leadership skills. Students also shared their creative talents while constructing pieces of art that will be displayed during Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Paint for Peace campaign in October.

Schools that currently participate in SAVE⁴ club programming address teen violence issues through educational media while giving students a voice through the creation of awareness projects and prevention programming within their school and community. One student said; “I like SAVE⁴ because it gives us the chance to talk about things we don’t normally talk about in class and it’s nice to see that other people have the same problems I do.” Another student asked; “How do I get SAVE⁴ in my school?”

Guest speaker and professional baseball player Matt DeSalvo talked with students about his experiences in leadership and lessons learned along the way to achieve his dream. He gave students this piece of advice; “You can have all the leadership abilities possible, but how you choose to use those abilities is what makes the difference. If I said to you Hilter was a great leader, I’m sure you’d have many faults to point out as to why he was not.” Tom Baker, vice-president of Pittsburgh’s Big Brothers and Big Sisters also spoke with students about positive self-esteem, goal setting and getting involved in school and community activities. Many of the students in attendance were passionate about helping out in their community and were concerned about others.  Upon conducting an informal survey of the group, it was revealed that over 1000 hours of community service had been performed by the teens. “It’s important that we recognize the creative potential of our youth and harness their energy towards creating positive social change,” said Carrie Klik, education and outreach supervisor at the Crisis Shelter. “The great things that students participating in SAVE⁴ activities are doing is evidence that positive change can happen. We need to continue to give youth the platform and tools to make it happen.”

Anyone interested in learning more about SAVE⁴ and other available programming is encouraged to call the Crisis Shelter at 724-652-9036 or read more by logging on to www.crisisshelter.org.

Physical stalking is following someone, appearing at a person’s home or place of business, making harassing phone calls, leaving written messages or objects, or vandalizing one’s property.  Cyberstalking involves using the internet or other electronic means toharass..  
 

U.S. crime statistics show that 1 in 12 women will be stalked in their lifetime, as will 1 in 45 men. The landmark “Stalking in America” study determined that about 1,000,000 women and 400,000 men are stalked each year. Stalking abuse initially consists of psychological violence and often escalates and culminates in physical violence.    Read more…   Stalking for Website

Cyberbullying is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones.  Cyberbullying must have a minor on both sides of the interaction. 

Examples are:
~~ “I hate you.  Everyone else hates you.  You should die.”
~~”Fat and Ugly! See pictures of the ugliest kid at school.”
~~”Vote for the uglist kid by clicking here.”

Read more in our GET INFORMED, GET INVOLVED Newsletters                    SAVE-Parents_vol 1 Cyberbullying
SAVE-Teen_vol 1 Identity Safety, Cyberbyllying

If you would like to receive our agency newsletter via email, please send your email address to info@crisisshelter.org

To read about topics regarding violence and abuse, please click on the newsetters below.

Consent Newsletter  Consent newsletter.2012

April SAVE4 Newsletter  http://conta.cc/Hnhfk4

Walk For Justice  http://conta.cc/HSydoj

Text BELIVE to 94253  http://conta.cc/HBnFyC

March, April, 2012 Newsletter http://conta.cc/HXs4dE

Winter, 2012 Newsletter http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs045/1104002974692/archive/1107889406197.html

October,2011 Newsletter  http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs045/1104002974692/archive/1107153464666.html

SAVE-Parents_vol 1 Cyberbullying      SAVE-Teen_vol 1 Identity Safety, Cyberbyllying

SAVE-Teen_vol 1 Identity Safety, Cyberbyllying      SAVE-Teen_vol 2 Sexting

Crime Victim Rights inSight FINAL     Dating Violence inSight–FINAL      Stalking inSight–FINAL

Agency Newsletter – October, 2010

Agency Newsletter – April, 2010

Volunteer Newsletter – May, 2010

NEW CASTLE NEWS:  April 8, 2011 — Child sexual abuse is one of the most common forms of violence perpetrated against our children. Yet, it can be said that it is one of the least understood by the most important people.
Who are these most important people? You, the parents, grandparents, caretakers, neighbors and educators of children. Most important, it is all of us, the protectors of our children. 

Child sexual abuse is an epidemic in Lawrence County and the nation that devastates the lives of one in four girls and one in six boys before they reach the age of 18. There are more than 39 million survivors of childhood sexual assault in America today. It’s time to shine a bright light on this serious epidemic that affects the children and youth of our communities and become more proactive in our efforts to eradicate this problem.

The Crisis Shelter of Lawrence County continually works toward our vision of reaching every home in the county with our message that abuse of children will not be tolerated. But it takes a village to raise a child and the vision must be one which is embraced by the entire village.

Last year, 3,000 residents of Lawrence County took a public stand against child abuse by displaying a Believe Me When I Tell yard sign pronouncing their commitment to the protection of children. However, there are more than 90,000 residents in our village of Lawrence County.

Ask yourself these questions: How do we stop the epidemic? How do we eradicate a problem that has the potential to affect any child within every economic, social, racial and ethnic class? How do we make the well-being of the children of Lawrence County a community priority and one that is shared by all adults?

How do we work together to raise happy, healthy, self-confident children? How do we make the well-being of the children of Lawrence County a community priority and one that is shared by all adults? How do we create environments where children can live free of all forms of violence?
Taking this one step further, I also would ask: How do we become active bystanders against abuse, and protectors of children? How do we arm ourselves with the education and skills necessary to answer these questions, and then actively pass that knowledge along to every adult in our communities with zealousness?

Child abuse in all of its manifestations — physical, emotional and sexual abuse, along with neglect — is an epidemic that requires a commitment by adults to take on the role of protectors of all children, and interveners on their behalf.

Become part of the solution. Take a public stand, make a difference and become a hero by creating a vision of hope in Lawrence County for our children. In order to transform our communities and ensure the prosperity of our future generations, our message must be for a county where all children truly are valued as our most precious asset, nurtured toward their full potential and protected from all forms of abuse.

Let every We Believe You When You Tell yard sign you see remind you to make an effort today to make a difference. Let me stress that just because the yard signs you see say “We Believe You When You Tell,” this in no way shifts the onus to children to simply disclose abuse.

The message is: We as adults are committed to protecting children; we are committed to intervening on behalf of children; and if you, as a child, in spite of all of our efforts to protect you, are in a situation where you feel uncomfortable or afraid, we will believe you and we will act.

Lawrence County District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa and the Crisis Shelter hosted a Crime Victims’ Rights Luncheon and Tree Planting at the Lawrence County Courthouse on Thursday, April 21, as part of Crime Victims’ Rights Week. 

Sophie Baker, a 2006 victim of a horrific crime, spoke of her experience as a crime victim and how Crime Victims’ Compensation helped her and her husband revover from life threatening injuries and put their lives back together.

Each April, since 1981, the Office for Victims of Crime has observed National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by promoting victims’ rights and honoring crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf.  The theme for National Crime Victims’ Week this year was “Reshaping the Future, Honoring the Past.”  District Attorney Lamancusa stated, “It is the duty and obligation of all supporting agencies in the criminal justice system to support and defend victims of crime.  It is this collective effort that will make a difference both in the lives of our victims and in perception of the public.”

According to Dayna Sear, Executive Director of the Crisis Shelter, to most effectively serve victims in the future, we must learn from past successes and understand the changing face of crime. Children living with domestic violence and youth threatened by violence need better protection, more responsive services and prevention programming. Underserved victims deserve understanding and support.

The Crisis Shelter is proud to partner wth District Attorney Lamancusa on Crime Victims’ Rights Week events.  Sowing awareness and growing prevention, along with empowering and advocating for victims is the mission of the Crisis Shelter.  Combining our mission with the mission of the District Attorney to punish offenders is making a difference in Lawrence County.

ARRA Stop Violence Against Women in conjunction with Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency # 20421

A Collaboration between…
The Crisis Shelter of Lawrence County
Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office
New Castle Police Department
Lawrence County Commissioners

Collaborative efforts are extremely important in helping victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.  Through the ARRA (American Reinvestment and Recovery Act) Stop Violence against Women Project priorities are to retain or create jobs at the local community level, where most victim services and criminal justice activities are planned and carried out.  The Stop Coordinating Team will be able to coordinate a new website to provide information to victims on court processes, PFA procedures, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and access to links of many other services available including Children’s Advocacy Center, Neighborhood Legal Services, etc.  The project also recognizes the importance of the requirement to fund at least 10% in efforts to reach the underserved, which in the County of Lawrence are the rural population.  This project will insure that the criminal justice system works more effectively for all victims by preserving and creating jobs that increase the safety in the community.

Read more…ARRA Stop media piece

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.