|
LOVE WITHOUT
FEAR |
|
“The
whole history of the progress of human liberty shows that
all concessions yet made to her august claims have been
born of earnest struggle…if there is no struggle, there
is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and
yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without
plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and
lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of
its many waters.” |
|
Fredrick
Douglas |
|
These words from Frederick Douglas are an apt description
of the work of the battered women’s movement as we reflect
on the challenges and fragile gains of the last
twenty-five years. We created our own affirmation and
vision with the initiation of the first “Love Without
Fear” celebration twenty-one years ago on Valentine’s Day.
We haven’t gone away, as some had hoped and others had
feared. Good for us! |
| I
think we often underestimate just how difficult this work
has been and continues to be. Indeed “If there is no
struggle, there is no progress.” With all the recent
efforts toward collaboration (i.e. “getting along”)
sometimes we feel we have failed if we ripple the waters,
ruffle the feathers, upset the applecart. In other words,
when we take up the heavy yoke of advocacy with our
colleagues, new-found friends and allies, it feels
strangely like betrayal. |
|
And yet the old issues reappear in different guises and we
press on with the insistent voices of our sisters and a
few brave brothers at our backs and by our side. We have
only just begun. |
| |
-Bonnie Palecek-
Executive Director
NDCAWS/CASAND |
|
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V-Day
A Global Movement |
|
V-Day is a global movement: An
organized effort to finally end violence against women.
V-Day is a vision: To see civilization where women live in
freedom and safety. V-Day is a spirit: Affirming that life
should be lived creating and thriving rather than
surviving or recovering from terrible atrocities. V-Day is
a catalyst: By raising money and consciousness, it will
unify and strengthen existing anti-violence efforts. V-Day
is a vital ongoing process: To proclaim Valentine’s Day as
V-Day until the violence against women stops; then it will
become Victory Day. |
|
V-Day was born in 1998 as an
outgrowth of Eve Ensler’s Obie-Award winning play, “The
Vagina Monologues.” As Eve performed the piece in small
towns and large cities all around the world, she saw and
heard first hand the destructive personal, social,
political and economic consequences violence against women
has for many nations. |
|
Hundreds of women told their
stories of rape, incest, domestic battery and genital
mutilation. It was clear that something widespread and
dramatic needed to be done to stop the violence. A group
of women in New York joined Eve and founded V-Day…a
catalyst, a movement, a performance. |
|
V-Day is a radical idea, a
catalytic force, a deeper imagining, an invitation. It is
both the vision of the place and the energy necessary to
transport us to the place where women are free and safe.
For four years, V-Day has been growing and gathering women
from all over the world. There are V-productions in over
31 countries. This year we are happy to announce that
North Dakota is taking part, for the first time ever, in
this global movement. |
|
A production of Eve Ensler’s
The Vagina Monologues, will be held at Bismarck
State College, Dickinson State University and University
of North Dakota. The proceeds from these events are
donated to local organizations in the schools’ communities
that are working to stop sexual violence. One of the goals
of this campaign is to empower young people-the leaders,
shapers and messengers of the future. |
|
As the
V-Day Mission Statement declares, we will not stop until
the violence does. And I hope you won’t either. If the
consciousness of one person, then one family, then one
town, then one city, then one province, then one country
can be shifted to one that does not promote, accept,
condone or ignore any form of violence, then it will
disappear. We are working toward that goal. V-Day. You.
All of us. Together.
Tessa Sicble |
|
State Plan to Address Building Lives Free From Violence in
North Dakota |
|
Under a grant through the
North Dakota Department of Health, The North Dakota
Council on Abused Women’s Services is facilitating the
development of a “state strategic plan” to address issues
relating to violence against women. It is important that
we participate, along with 22 other states, in this
national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
planning initiative. The purpose of this plan is to
provide a framework in which to focus statewide efforts.
The designated areas of emphasis will be used as
guidelines for developing and implementing effective
intervention, prevention, and public policy strategies to
ensure a coordinated community and statewide response in
addressing violence against women in North Dakota. The
final “working document” will be published and
disseminated to the appropriate agencies and organizations
with recommendations for sustaining current services and
implementing new strategies for change. |
|
We have invited 40
representatives from state agencies and organizations to
attend a State Plan Committee meeting on January 24th, to
help in developing goals, objectives, and recommendations
for 4 focus areas. We hope this process will help in
developing a strong network of shared resources and
support. It is our goal to provide a continuum of quality
services that provides families with options needed to
build lives free from violence in North Dakota. |
|
A Chinese Proverb seems to
speak to where it all begins… |
| If
there is light in the soul, |
If
there is harmony in the house, |
| There
will be beauty in the person. |
There
will be order in the nation. |
| If
there is beauty in the person, |
If
there is order in the nation, |
| There
will be harmony in the house. |
There
will be Peace in the World. |
| |
-Val Lovdahl- |
|
Statewide Planning Task Force Coordinator |
|
|
Family Violence Option |
|
The Family Violence Option was
implemented to aid T.A.N.F. recipients who have or are
experiencing domestic violence to become self-sufficient.
It allows alternatives to job requirements and allows the
victim to seek counseling or family therapy. The client
will also have a case manager. |
|
The goal of the T.A.N.F.
project is to assist state agencies and domestic violence
advocates with strengthening the referral process by
offering training on domestic violence issues. The
training will discuss domestic violence, safety planning,
and an assessment tool that will be utilized by domestic
violence advocates. The assessment tool was developed for
the domestic violence advocate to help determine if the
T.A.N.F. client is eligible for a F.V.O. waiver. |
|
By the end of the year, the
T.A.N.F. project hopes to have visited all regions in the
state of ND with the F.V.O. training. |
| |
-Carolyn Bird Bear-
T.A.N.F. Project Director |
|
|
Campus Violence Project
Continues to Build Momentum |
|
ND WEAV’S GRANT CONTINUED |
|
Of primary importance:
FUNDING! We’re so pleased to report that the ND WEAV
project received money from the US Department of Justice
to continue through October 2003. This funding is the
source that allows us to enhance the hard work of the last
ten years. |
|
PEER EDUCATION RETREAT
SUCCESSFUL |
|
Another semester has started
up on nearly every college campus and with it brings the
invigoration of committed students and staff. Each year I
become further impressed by the dedicated individuals who
start, maintain, and expand programs to combat violence
against women on campus. |
|
At October’s Peer Education
Retreat, students learned and gained inspiration from each
other to address campus violence issues on their campuses.
Representatives from six colleges were in attendance.
Everyone’s enthusiasm and allegiance to the issues was
palpable. The experience of those present was broad,
allowing for many valuable insights. Those new to the
arena brought fresh new approaches and those with ample
experience were able to provide advice for best practices. |
|
Following the retreat, two
schools have initiated programs where none previously have
existed. Valley City State University has organized a peer
education group and brought in the Clothesline Project to
kick off their program. Dickinson State University also
initiated a group, which they have named the Women’s
Advocacy Group. They are having CAWS provide some training
to help them get started. Where programs have been in
place, the plans have expanded. As the updates come in,
excitement swells upon hearing of their accomplishments. |
|
CAMPUS VIOLENCE SUMMIT PLANNED |
|
Around mid spring semester,
campuses begin planning for the fall semester. CAWS likes
to assist in the planning by providing a forum to gather
information on what works. For that reason, the 2nd
Annual Campus Violence Summit is set and preparations
have begun. This year’s event is scheduled for March 27
and 28, 2002 at the Doublewood Inn in Bismarck. The
conference will provide workshops for students, faculty,
staff, security, and judicial boards. For more
information, contact Renee at the CAWS office. |
CAMPUS VIOLENCE PROJECT
RECEIVES
NATIONAL RECOGNITION |
|
It seems that many in the
United States are looking north for guidance on addressing
violence against women on campus. The North Dakota Campus
Violence Project has been receiving numerous calls and
requests to advise in building campus consortiums. I have
periodically received requests about the campus
collaboration, but these requests have increased
dramatically within the last few months. |
|
I have given information about
the project to many other state coalitions, including
Washington State, Colorado, and South Carolina. From this
sharing, other calls have come forth. I recently presented
on the project to a national audience of State Sexual
Assault Coalitions, been asked to contribute information
to VAWnet (which is a national
network/clearinghouse/website of violence against women
issues), and been interviewed for an article on the
subject. |
|
It is quite thrilling to see
North Dakota as a leader in this area. |
|
STATEWIDE AWARENESS PROJECT IN
THE WORKS |
|
The ND WEAV project has
decided to use some of their funds to raise awareness
throughout the state of North Dakota on violence against
women on campus. At this time, the committee working on
the project has asked for logo design submissions.
Students from campuses throughout the state are asked to
submit designs, which will become the logo for ND WEAV.
The logo chosen will then be used to create products used
in the awareness project. Through this awareness project,
WEAV is hoping to gain the necessary grassroots support to
combat violence against women on campus. |
|
The achievements of the Campus
Violence Project are evidence of the commitment of many
hard-working individuals intent on creating violence-free
communities. |
| |
Renee
Stromme
Campus Violence Project Director |
|
|
Emergency Contraception |
|
According to the American
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (1996) an
estimated 32,000 US women become pregnant as a result of
sexual violence each year. The number of individuals that
report rape is low, only an estimated 16% according to
Rape in America (1992). But that 16% of rape victims
come forward with very specific medical and emotional
needs and concerns. One of these is the fear of pregnancy.
“The risk of pregnancy from a rape is the same as the risk
of pregnancy from a one time sexual encounter.” This is
estimated to be 2 to 5 percent (Holmes, Resnick,
Kilpatrick, and Best, 1996). |
|
The American Medical
Association and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Resource
Services both support pregnancy prevention as a major
component of standards of treatment for victims of sexual
assault. There are three forms of emergency contraception
available in the United States: emergency contraceptive
pills containing progestin only, sold as Plan B, estrogen
and progestin pills, sold as Preven, and the copper-T IUD. |
|
The emergency contraceptive
pills are given in two doses, 12 hours apart. They work
best when the first dose is taken within 72 hours of a
sexual assault. The number of pills in a dose depends on
the brand, but women should always be sure to use the same
brand for both doses. The Copper-T IUD is not only used as
an emergency contraceptive, but once inserted can be left
in the uterus for up to ten years for very effective
contraception, or it can be removed after the next period. |
|
The way emergency
contraception works is an issue of current scientific
research. The primarily accepted theory is that emergency
contraception prevents or delays the release of the egg
from the ovaries (ovulation). Another theory is that it
prevents the egg and sperm from joining (fertilization).
Emergency contraception does not cause an abortion,
because it works before implantation of a fertilized egg
in a woman’s uterus. Emergency contraception should not be
confused with a medical abortion or RU486, the medication
used to induce abortions. |
|
Advocates should become aware
of the emergency contraception methods available at area
emergency departments. If pregnancy is a concern for the
victim, the advocate should speak with the SANE or
attending medical personnel about options available and
recommend that they speak with the victim about the risk
of becoming pregnant, emergency contraception options, and
other options should the victim choose no contraception
method. |
| |
-Jessica McSparron
Sexual Assault and Policy Coordinator |
|
|
How have we helped? |
|
“The verbal abuse killed me
on the inside. Even though no one could tell by looking at
me, I was like a dead person pretending to be alive.”
This is a quote from a series of victim interviews that
were completed as part of our rural grant. You can almost
feel the pain this young woman has experienced. How have
we helped? |
|
In 2000, 3,963 new victims
reported domestic violence to crisis intervention centers
in North Dakota, 12% of them were reported from towns of
fewer than 5,000 people. How have we helped? |
|
As rural North Dakota faces
the problems of economic and population loss, 11 rural
programs continue to provide services, information, and
education about domestic violence and sexual assault.
Communities are beginning to respond to the needs of
victims with the guidance of local programs through task
forces or interagency meetings. To date 13 community
audits have shown that communities understand the harmful
affects of domestic violence and are acknowledging the
need to assist victims within the local community.
Material designed specifically for professionals working
in rural areas have been distributed and continue to be
requested as resource materials. “In Her Own Words”, a
video addressing the domestic violence issues in rural
areas, has been used throughout the state to help build
community support for victims. |
|
As we move into the New Year,
our efforts will concentrate on making local programs more
accessible to victims living in rural and remote areas of
North Dakota. A public education campaign will begin in
January, entitled “It’s Hard To Know What To Do”. This
campaign will address the need for communities to respond
to domestic violence through local intervention. Community
domestic violence programs will publicize the crisis line
numbers and locations of their programs throughout the
county and in each rural community. |
|
Our recently refunded Rural
Victimization grant will assist in gathering data in five
additional counties of the state. This will help us
identify the best way to address issues of domestic
violence in areas previously unserved or underserved.
Identified counties for assessment are Kidder, Sheridan,
Wells, Towner, and Pierce. |
|
As a coalition, we will
continue to assist rural programs in finding ways to work
together to provide service in underserved areas. Through
our incentive program, rural pilot projects will seek
creative solutions to the unique problems of living and
working in rural counties. |
|
The new grant allows us to
continue the work started in 2001 and enhances our ability
to respond to the needs of programs and communities in the
rural and remote parts of our state. |
|
If you would like more
information about the work of NDCAWS in rural areas,
please call Linda Isakson, Rural Project Coordinator at
1-888-255-6240. |
| |
Materials
Available: |
 |
A Guide for
Family & Friends |
|
|
Health Care
Professionals Guidebook |
|
|
Clergy Booklet |
|
|
Social
Worker’s Guidebook |
|
|
Cosmetologists
Guidebook |
|
|
You Are Not
Alone (victim card) |
|
|
Educators
Guide |
|
|
Dating
Violence brochure |
|
If you are interested in using
any of these materials, you can contact your local
domestic violence project for copies or call NDCAWS at
1-888-255-6240. |
| |
-Linda Isakson-
Rural Project Coordinator |
|
|
Sexual Assault Awareness Month |
|
April 2002 is Sexual Assault
Awareness Month. NDCAWS/CASAND is sponsoring a napkin
campaign for the state. These napkins will have the motto
“Wipe Out Sexual Assault” with the national sexual assault
hotline number. Agencies registered with the National
Hotline organization, RAINN, will have their 24 hour
hotline number contacted when an individual calls the
hotline. The call is transferred directly to the closest
agency from where the call originates through a MCI
program that directs the call. |
|
We will be working with each
of the 19 agencies throughout the state to coordinate the
napkin distribution. Each agency will be asked to have a
restaurant, bar, or lounge in their community that would
be willing to use these napkins one day per week during
the month of April. CASAND has decided to use this
campaign in an attempt to reach the age of people at
highest risk for sexual assault. CASAND will provide each
agency with 1000 napkins to use during the month. |
|
NDCAWS/CASAND will be working
with the Governor to have April declared Sexual Assault
Awareness Month. We will also be providing a copy of the
proposed declaration to each agency to work with the
mayors in their communities to have them declare April as
Sexual Assault Awareness Month. In addition, CASAND will
provide each agency with 10, 20, 30 and 60 second public
service announcements to utilize. CASAND will be
coordinating with the media through distribution of media
packets, which will also be provided to each of the
agencies. |
|
Finally, CASAND will be
working with the Campus Violence Project, the Child
Advocate, the Rural Project, and Students Against
Destructive Decisions to get the message out to as many
North Dakotans as possible. Also, CASAND has sponsored
Joanne Archambault, a San Diego police officer, to do
training at the Sexual Assault Conference being hosted by
the Abused Adult Resource Center. For any questions,
please contact Jessica McSparron, Sexual Assault Program
Coordinator, NDCAWS, 701-255-6240. |
|
CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH |
|
ORDER YOUR FREE CHILD ABUSE
PREVENTION MONTH PACKET |
|
Prevent Child Abuse North
Dakota is again offering a free packet of materials for
Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. The packets are
filled with copy ready educational materials that you may
distribute in classrooms, churches, clinics, post offices,
libraries, banks, stores, and malls. Media information
will also be included. |
|
The theme will center around
Emotional Abuse and Neglect Prevention. Other ideas for
April activities will be included as well. |
|
Plan to do something for April
now! |
|
If you received a packet last
year, you need not re-order. You will receive one again
this year. |
|
To order one today, e-mail
Prevent Child Abuse North Dakota at [email protected] or
call 701-223-9052. |
|
Domestic Violence Awareness Stamp |
|
Senator Ben Nighthorse
Campbell successfully attached a provision to the Treasury
Postal Appropriations bill that will create a domestic
violence awareness stamp. As with the breast cancer
awareness stamp, it will cost a little more than a regular
stamp and the proceeds will go to the Department of Health
and Human Services to distribute to local shelters and
programs. It will be first issued in January, 2004. This
was signed into law on November 11, 2001 as Public Law
#10767. You can send letters of thanks to: |
Senator Ben Nighthorse
Campbell
380 Senate Russell Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(Fax) 202-224-1933 [Email] |
|
International Toll
Free Domestic Violence Hotline |
|
In 2001 the American Women
Overseas Domestic Violence Fund (AWOS), based in Portland,
Oregon, launched the first International Toll Free
Domestic Violence Crisis Line, 866-USWOMEN, for American
women and children being abused in foreign countries. This
is the only organization in the United States currently
providing hope and resources to these forgotten victims of
domestic violence. |
|
These American women and
children are often isolated, don’t speak the native
language, have no family, no validations and are subjected
to systemic abuse. The AWOS counselors help American women
with support, information, and safety planning. Should the
American women decide to return to the USA, AWOS provides
emergency funds, safe housing, legal representation and
other programs to help the American women establish a
violence-free life. |
|
The
international crisis line will considerably expand
domestic violence resources to these American women and
children in crisis. For more information or to find out
how you can help, please visit the AWOS website at
www.awoscentral.com. |
