Presidential Proclamation–National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, 2011
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month reflects our Nation’s growing understanding that violence within relationships often begins during adolescence. Each year, about one in four teens report being the victim of verbal, physical, emotional, or sexual violence. Abusive relationships can impact adolescent development, and teens who experience dating violence may suffer long-term negative behavioral and health consequences. Adolescents in controlling or violent relationships may carry these dangerous and unhealthy patterns into future relationships. The time to break the cycle of teen dating violence is now, before another generation falls victim to this tragedy.
Though many communities face the problem of teen dating violence, young people can be afraid to discuss it, or they may not recognize the severity of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Parents and other adults can also be uncomfortable acknowledging that young people experience abuse, or may be unaware of its occurrence. To help stop abuse before it starts, mentors and leaders must stress the importance of mutual respect and challenge representations in popular culture that can lead young people to accept unhealthy behavior in their relationships. Continue reading »
Shoshanna Kramer, Executive Director/Founder of Hands of Ahava presented to the Los Angeles Domestic Violence Council about the under served Jewish community and domestic violence. There are over 550,000 Jews in Los Angeles County (excluding Long Beach) yet there is a lack of programs designed to meet the Jewish communities cultural and religious need.
Shoshanna Kramer, Executive Director and Founder of Hands of Ahava, the nations first Jewish based organization specializing in both domestic violence and sexual assault, presented to the Los Angeles Domestic Violence Council November 16. The goal of the presentation was to educate the council about meeting the needs of Jewish community, which is greatly under recognized and under served.
On April 29, 1979 the Board of Supervisors established the Domestic Violence Council (DVC). Comprised of members from shelter agencies, community groups, the courts, law enforcement, the District Attorney’s office, L.A. City Attorney’s office, Public Defender, and Health Services, the DVC facilitates interdepartmental coordination of services, reviews legislation, and serves as a forum to raise public awareness of services and develop strategies with the public and private sectors to stem the incidence of domestic violence.
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The Los Angeles Jewish Journal covered domestic violence. This story will hopefully start to break the silence and stigma associated with domestic violence within the Jewish community.
Click here to read the full story.
