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Community
Education & Outreach |
| Community Educational programs are available to
any individuals, community groups or agencies who are interested in learning
more about the topics of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault,
stalking, child sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment. |
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| A variety of prevention education programs are
also available to area school districts for students of all ages. One
such example is our "Run and Tell" presentation (see article below.) |
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Outreach efforts embraced by
local teachers
‘Run’ and ‘Tell’ help kids
learn how to keep their bodies safe |
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'Run’
and ‘Tell’ (pictured above) help children understand what rules should
be followed to keep their bodies safe. The puppets are used in the ‘Good
Touch, Bad Touch, Secret Touch’ presentation for elementary school-aged
children.
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The
Domestic Violence/Rape Crisis Department developed a coloring book that
encourages elementary school students to participate in coloring,
drawing and writing activities. These activities help to reinforce the
idea that a person’s body belongs just to them.
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The
Domestic Violence/Rape Crisis Department uses a variety of tools to
reinforce concepts about touching. One of their most effective strategies is
the use of the ‘Good Touch, Bad Touch, Secret Touch’ presentation to
elementary aged school children. The presentation features two puppets,
‘Run’ and ‘Tell’, who with the “assistance” of Prevention Educators, provide
an overview about appropriate touching in a manner in which children can
understand. The program begins by introducing ground rules and facilitating
a discussion about different rules that we should follow to keep our bodies
safe. Students are encouraged to brainstorm rules that we all follow on a
day-to-day basis, for example, wearing a helmet when riding a bike, using
seatbelts when riding in a car, and looking both ways before crossing the
street. The Prevention Educators then discuss safe touches (shaking hands,
patting your classmate on the back for a job well done) and unsafe touches
(hitting, kicking, and punching.)
Run and Tell the Prevention Educators use visual aids including a recently
developed coloring book, that encourages students to participate in
coloring, drawing and writing activities, which help to reinforce the idea
that a person’s body belongs just to them.
Feedback from teachers and
students alike continues to be positive. One educator commented, “This is an
invaluable service to our school and community and I look forward to
inviting them back to present to other students!” One group of
students even wrote letters to Run and Tell thanking them for coming into
class. Students commented they learned a lot and even ‘had fun.’
Key to the program are
teachers who recommend this program to other teachers in their own
and other school districts. For more information on available curricula,
please call 376-8202, extension 245, or
email us!
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Homemade quilt
captures plight of victims
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The
Domestic Violence/Rape Crisis program quilt was crafted in 2003 by survivors of
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The DV/RC
quilt has been displayed throughout the county on different occasions to increase awareness of the
subject of domestic violence. For a closer look at the quilt,
click on any square.
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Domestic
Violence, as well as program advocates. Each participant designed their own
square which represented some aspect of that individual’s experiences. By
designing a square, each participant was able to reflect on where they have
been and where they want their life to go.
The making of the quilt helped in the healing process and serves as a
reminder of the daily crisis of violence against women. The quilt also
serves as a powerful tool for prevention and education and has been
displayed in various locations throughout the county.
Through projects like the quilt, Opportunities’ Domestic Violence and Rape
Crisis Department continues to raise awareness regarding the subject of
domestic violence and is committed to advocating for victims’ rights to live
in their community and home without the fear of violence.
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The Clothesline Project |
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The Clothesline Project is a method for victims and survivors of
sexual assault to voice their assault in a unique way. Each shirt placed
upon the clothesline is created by the survivor and can include words,
artwork, and personal design. The Clothesline Project can be an educational tool for people who visit one of the many
Clothesline Projects throughout the country. It also can be a healing tool
for anyone making a shirt to place on display. Much like the
Old Survivor by
the Sea poem, where the survivor placed her hate and grief upon the hook and
sinker, the Clothesline Project allows the survivor to cast their hate and
grief upon the shirt, then hang it upon the clothesline and walk away. The
Clothesline Project also serves the purpose of allowing those suffering in
silence to realize they are not alone.
The first Clothesline Project was completed in October 1990 in Hyannis, Massachusetts.
On a village green, 31 shirts were displayed as part of a “Take Back the Night” rally. The idea kept growing and a
national response brought the Clothesline Project from a single, grassroots
event into a national campaign. Today, there are an estimated 500
Clothesline Projects with over 50,000 shirts on display around the world.
Our Clothesline Project was created by local victims and
survivors of sexual assault, and a sampling of it is now available on-line.
From time to time, the Clothesline Project is also on displayed within the
community.
Caution: Because of the nature of this
healing tool, some of the shirts may be graphic in wording.
However, to censor
the voices of survivors is to turn our backs upon them. We will not
compromise the integrity of their voices. |
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Copyright © 2003-2010 Lewis County Opportunities, Inc.
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