Transitioning Times

Looking to help out Transitions, but you're not sure how?  Below is a list of some much-needed items for the shelters: New infant car seat 3 blow dryers that can be attached to a wall Single and Full sized blankets, comforters, and sheets Towels, washcloths Dishrags Disinfecting Wipes Call the administration office, at 523-1134, to schedule a donation drop off or pick up.  Thank you!

Come to the Bull Run Inn on Tuesday, December 27th (tentatively 8-11PM) and support Averie Clark:   cool blue , and Transitions! Averie Clark: cool blue is well known in the greater Susquehanna River valley for performances that connect with a variety of audiences. Fueled by the amazing musicicanship of Don Krech, guitar(s), Bill Flack, bass, Steve Mitchell, drums, and Tom Martin, harmonica, Averie's intuitive stylings channel the essence of each tune, offering inspired interpretations of songs from the 1890's to today. The performance benefits Transitions as Averie's tribute to her dear friend who was a victim of a domestic murder suicide. This December they would've been celebrating their 50th birthdays together.

This week, there was an outcry based upon ads from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board , encouraging people to “Control Tonight.”  There have been many articles and arguments about the victim-blaming that the PLCB engaged in.  I believe many of these writers are more eloquent than I, and encourage you to read those articles.  However, I wanted to add my voice because of the anger that I experienced when I visited www.controltonight.com .  Upon entrance to the website, you are taken to an interactive scenario, starting with the “end” of the night, specifically, the consequences that the individual or friend faced due to imbibing.  This screen said:   "Sexual Assault: That’s what Anne’s attorney will call it a month from now. She said no, but he kept going. And now, your friend is on his bathroom floor, bruised and victimized.”   The website allows the user to “See how you could have prevented this.”   As a diligent web-...

Shared Hope International has recently completed a project called Protected Innocence, based on research performed by Shared Hope International and compiled in “The National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking.”  This project gives grades to states for their response to domestic minor sex trafficking, as well as providing suggestions for policy changes.  The Federal  Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) has made sex trafficking of a minor a crime.   Federal law defines sex trafficking as the “recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act.” When considering the crime of domestic minor sex trafficking, under the TVPA, the victim’s age is the critical issue—there is no requirement to prove that force, fraud, or coercion was used to secure the victim’s actions if the victim is a minor.  This is key because many minor sex traffickers do not need to use force or coercion.  The vi...

According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS , at the end of 2010, 34 million people worldwide are living with HIV.  Globally, the percentage of women living with HIV has held steady at 50%, but in sub-Saharan Africa, the percentage is 59%.  On December 1 st , World AIDS Day, we at Transitions would like to remind you of the intersection of HIV/AIDS infection and violence against women and girls.  Due to the biology of their genitalia, females are twice as likely as males to contract HIV from unprotected heterosexual intercourse.  There are a great many situations, both domestically and abroad, where women and girls do not have the power to negotiate safe sex practices or to refuse sex. Women who are victims of sexual violence are at an increased risk of HIV exposure.  They do not have control over a nonconsensual sexual encounter.  Whether the perpetrator uses a condom or not, what type of intercourse they engage in, who the pe...