Transitioning Times

Lewisburg, PA (November 1, 2013) – The Allstate® Foundation has awarded $7,500 to Transitions for economic empowerment programs for domestic violence victims to be conducted in 2014. Transitions is a comprehensive crime victims services center that provides education programs and direct services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and other serious crimes in Union, Snyder, and Northumberland counties.  Transitions operates two domestic violence shelters and houses 110 adult and child victims annually.  Last year, Transitions provide services to almost 2,700 individuals. Transitions will utilize funds from the Allstate® Foundation Grant to reduce barriers for domestic violence survivors by offering Allstate’s Moving Ahead through Financial Empowerment program in Union, Snyder, and Northumberland counties, Pennsylvania.  Providing financial management training to those living in poverty will assist victims and survivors of domestic violence develo...

The Purple Hands Project developed a pledge that states, "I will not use hands or my words for hurting myself or others."  Many people have taken the pledge by stamping their hand print on a poster board, with purple paint, to signify that they are making a stand against domestic violence and a commitment to not take part in any domestic violence themselves.  I first saw this done a few years ago in a church in Montana, where they proudly displayed their pledge to end violence.  Their pledge is still hanging in the church to this day, to serve as a reminder.  On October 23, I presented some members of my church with information and education about domestic violence.  First, we played a game of Jeopardy to see how much they knew about domestic violence.  Then, I gave them information on the services that Transitions provides and then we took a look at different warning signs of an abusive relationship, ways to safety plan, and what they could do if they...

Caution:   Sexually explicit content Currently, there is a controversy surrounding a recently released video of a young woman being sexually assaulted by a young man on the street.   The controversy is whether this woman is a “real victim” or not.   (There’s also additional controversy about the identity of the victim.)   This conversation, about “real” rape, and “real” victims has gone on and on and although I will add my outcry and frustration, I cannot add a different perspective.   Besides to say that rape is rape and victims are victims, until they become survivors.   Do we really need to compare and rate levels of trauma and when abuse is “bad enough”? Instead, I would like to comment on the outcries that this woman is not being sexually assaulted, and in my opinion, a lot of this comes from the fact that this sexual assault does not include vaginal intercourse through penetration by a penis.   There is a notion that digital pe...

  They are the victims without voices.   Some might bark, others meow or some tweet a song. They are the pets suffering due to domestic violence. According to aspca.org , a study conducted by The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reveled that 85.4 % of women and 63% of children reported incidents of pet abuse after arriving at domestic violence shelters. Why do abusers target pets? To demonstrate power and control over the family To isolate the victim and children To enforce submission To perpetuate an environment of fear To prevent the victim from leaving or coerce her to return To punish for leaving or showing independence   How can you help your local Domestic Violence center like Transitions assist victims and their pets? Encourage victims to include their pets in their safety plan Consider opening your home as a temporary foster home while a victim is in safe housing ...

Fatality and Domestic Violence Domestic Violence is a life-threatening crime that affects millions of individuals regardless of age, economic status, race, religion or education.   Nationwide, an average of three women are killed by a current or former partner every day.    Advocates who work in the field of domestic violence know the high-risk stakes of the domestic violence situations that they encounter daily.   At Transitions, the first step we take when speaking with a victim contacts us is to safety plan to make sure that the person is not in immediate danger.   We must always be alert to the potential danger that may be present.   This article will explore fatalities in the US and its effects on children; the deaths that have occurred in our service area (Union, Snyder and Northumberland Counties) over the last ten years; and what Transitions is doing to reduce fatalities.   All but one of our deaths was caused by gunshot wounds...

Over the years Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault crisis centers, such as Transitions, have been focusing on helping victims and survivors of sexual and domestic violence.   Through the years there has been specific focus on helping women and getting them into a safe place.   We know that a staggering number of women are affected by domestic and sexual violence every year, but have recently begun to learn about the large number of adolescents and teens that are experiencing intimate partner violence, or dating violence, as well. Every year in the U.S. at least 400,000 adolescents experience serious physical or sexual dating violence.   As students get older, sexual violence and dating violence still occur at troubling rates. In fact, about 70% of college students say they have been sexually coerced. Perhaps one of the most troubling things about dating violence among our youth is how underreported and unrecognized it can be.   Many teens and adolescents...

  Today’s post is exactly the reason I feel that we need to continue to be aware of gender roles in marketing, education, and the media. Pigeon-holing people into certain gender roles has been detrimental, and I believe that there is a swing to the other direction, with more trans and non-gender conforming individuals in the media, but we still live in a rural community, and these “traditions” are hard to break. We have reality-TV celebrities encouraging women to provide in their homes a sanctuary for their husbands, where he does not have to cook, clean, change diapers, or ask for sex.   Melissa Gorga, a Real Housewife of New Jersey, has written an advice book, Love Italian Style.   In it, she and her husband, Joe Gorga, speak about their sex life, in which Joe says:   “ Every girl wants to get her hair pulled once in a while. If your wife says "no," turn her around, and rip her clothes off. She wants to be dominated.” REALLY?!!   T...

We are living in a fast moving, digital world.   Currently, there is a form of abuse or harassment being conducted on the internet called revenge porn.   Last week, there was an article in the New York Times asking for states to criminalize this behavior.   Prior to that, CNN ran a news story this summer, asking for the same. “Revenge porn” is a term given to explicit or pornographic photographs or videos that were sent to significant others when the two parties were involved in a consensual relationship, but are then distributed or posted online after they break up.   We have seen this type of behavior in juvenile sexting cases and have seen legislation passed criminalizing this behavior for children, but not for adults.   Victims and advocates (including Transitions) are calling for this behavior to be criminalized. Currently, victims can sue the perpetrators of this type of behavior with a civil suit, but beyond that, their behavior often...

Presidential Proclamation -- National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 2013 NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, 2013 - - - - - - - BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION Since the passage of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) nearly 20 years ago, our Nation's response to domestic violence has greatly improved. What was too often seen as a private matter best hidden behind closed doors is now an established issue of national concern. We have changed our laws, transformed our culture, and improved support services for survivors. We have seen a significant drop in domestic violence homicides and improved training for police, prosecutors, and advocates. Yet we must do more to provide protection and justice for survivors and to prevent violence from occurring. During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we stand with domestic abuse survivors, celebrate our Nation's progress in combatting these despicable ...

Transitions has released its annual report for 2012-2013.   Some of the highlights of this past year include: ·   Provided 7,927 hours of counseling to 2,668 victims of crime. ·   Partnered with Bucknell University in the development of a Campus Community Response Team for sexual assault, dating violence and stalking victims on campus. ·   Piloted program at White Deer Run Treatment Center for adolescent males focused on primary prevention of sexual violence based on the Bystander Approach. ·   Provided 694 educational programs to 15,754 students in 8 school districts in Union, Snyder and Northumberland Counties. ·   Partnered with Lewisburg High School, Selinsgrove High School and Family Planning to implement Project Connect to identify, promote, and evaluate best practices and policies for addressing adolescent relationship abuse. ·   Provided outreach and educational materials at 104 health fairs and other community wide events. ...