Culpepper Star Exponent
Representatives of the new Culpeper County Options pilot program “Do You,” which provides anti-violence awareness to local youth, recently attended an event against abuse in the nation’s capital in February.
Invited by the White House staff, Wanda Anderson, community services assessment specialist for Options, and “Do You” youth participant Krystal Crigger, facilitators from other pilot sites and the Action Alliance Prevention staff attended the ceremony held at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., honoring National Teen Dating Violence Awareness month on Feb. 28 – the same day the House of Representatives passed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act.
Anderson said Lynn Rosenthal, White House Advisor on Violence Against Women, and Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West addressed the crowd on the importance of raising awareness and preventing dating violence.
“However the highlight from this event included a timely address from Vice President Joe Biden,” said Anderson. “Vice President Biden stated that ‘ending domestic violence is the proudest cause he is known for,” Anderson quoted.
The Options “Do You” campaign was one of three programs selected in the state by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance in Richmond to pilot this new teen initiative, said Anderson.
According to Anderson, the “Do You” campaign addresses youth violence such as dating and sexual violence, sexual harassment and bullying in a safe environment by “confronting its root causes and building resilience to promote positive development and healthy relationships.” Participants 13 to 16 years old complete 10 sessions in small, same-gender groups where Anderson said they “engage in discussion and activities using creative expression to design their own ‘zine.”
Short for magazine, a ‘zine features the participants’ images, thoughts and ideas, “aimed to enhance healthy/non-violent interpersonal friendship and conflict resolution skills,” Anderson said.
Once completed, the teens recently displayed their work during an exhibit. “This was a way for them to share with their community what they learned through their participation in the “Do You” campaign.” Anderson said high school students, college groups, representatives from violence prevention groups and agencies, parents of violence victims and government leaders all took part in the discussion regarding the growing issue of teen dating violence.
Anderson added that Leslie Conway, prevention coordinator at the Action Alliance, attended this event, which “received very favorable feedback.”
Following the impact the “Do You” campaign has made on its participants, Anderson said Options will provide another 10-week session starting April 16. For more information about this program call Options at 829-2129 and ask for Wanda Anderson, Dave Kemp or Roberta Jackson.
For more information about domestic violence or intimate partner violence call the Virginia Family Violence & Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-838-8328. If you want more information about the Do You campaign email the Action Alliance at info@vsdvalliance.org.
Story originally published http://www.dailyprogress.com/starexponent/news/local_news/choosing-the-right-options/article_ddb24e7c-92d3-11e2-963a-001a4bcf6878.html
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