Wednesday, March 23, 2011

CCADV 2011 Spring Newsletter

SPRING 2011

 
   CCADV's td411.org website and APP

CCADV will be releasing its teen dating website and APP for the iphone and android phone within the  next month. The APP is the first of its kind in the country, and will include the following sections:

 

* Ur relationship & u - Relationship Quiz, Why does it happen?, Readin' the signs, and Technology & u.

 

* Helpin' u out - Know ur rights, Takin' the next steps, & self care.

 

* Do ur part - Speak up, Get involved, & Find out more!

 

* Interactive/Fun - Videos, Music, and Stories!

 

The micro website - td411.org - that accompanies the app is being reviewed by local high school students for their feedback. "We want to make sure the teens find the APP/website useful, so they can either use it for themselves or refer it to a friend. If anyone asks about teen dating relationships,  the response now is 'there's an App for that.'" - Macklin Xu

 

The APP will have a soft launch on March 31and be released on April 15th. td411.org will also be available on March 31. Look for the APP downloadable on www.ctcadv.org, our Facebook fan page, and Twitter account!



Capitol News

 

Guided by our mission of changing the social conditions that perpetuate violence, CCADV works closely with our membership, state advocacy groups, and legislators to draft legislation and to organize for policy change.   Each year, we develop a domestic violence legislative agenda to present to our elected officials for their support.  

 

CCADV continues to work with the Speaker's Task Force Against Domestic Violence to implement reforms to Connecticut's domestic violence laws.   Among this year's  recommendations from the Task Force are changes to insure that when defendants in criminal cases are required to surrender their weapons, they must be given to someone residing outside their home; to train judicial staff who cover docket courts and for judges covering temporary restraining order hearings; and to make victims of domestic violence eligible for restitution.  

 

Representative Mae Flexer, Chair of the Speaker's Task Force on Domestic Violence presents the Task Force recommendations.  

 

The Speakers Task Force presented their full set of recommendations on March 28, 2011. CCADV is in support of their recommendations and has chosen three issues to focus on this session:

 

1.     Domestic violence funding: 

CCADV is recommending that the General Assembly support the Governor's budget proposal for domestic violence funding.  Governor  Malloy's budget holds funds steady based upon last year's allocation.

 

2.     Bail/Bond of domestic violence offenders:

CCADV is recommending that when bail/bond is set in domestic violence cases, 1) no bail bond be set without charging the premium rate as approved by the Insurance Commissioner and 2) a 35% down payment must be made when the offender is entering into a payment plan with a surety bail bond agent.

 

When offenders are able bail/bond out by paying less than the premium rate to a bail bond agent or by providing no down payment in a payment plan arrangement, victims are left with a false sense of security because they are led to believe that the offender would be incarcerated.   

   

3.     Teen Dating Protocols for Schools:

CCADV is recommending the amendment of the definition of bullying (CGS 10-222d) to include teen dating violence. If teen dating violence is included in the definition of bullying, CCADV can work with school systems to  develop  policies and procedures to address  teen dating violence which will include provisions on reporting, investigation, notification, and intervention. The policies can also include provisions for addressing teen dating violence outside of the school setting if it has a direct and negative impact on a student's academic performance or safety in school.


Let's Prevent Domestic Violence Before It Happens  

Last year, CCADV began the process of rethinking our reasons for  being. Acknowledging that even though we have improved services for survivors, we have not been able to stop intimate partner violence from occurring. 

 

CCADV believes that if we want a society free of domestic violence, we need to prevent it before it happens. After long hours of discussion, changes were made to our mission and vision and consequently a primary prevention component was included in our strategic plan for the next five years.  

 

We believe that to end intimate partner violence we need to go beyond intervening to change individual behaviors. We must focus on building communities that promote healthy relationships, equality and respect for our children and grandchildren. We need to begin working to change those social beliefs and practices that condone domestic violence now.

 

We have engaged with the Center of Disease Control (CDC) through the DELTA PREP project,. DELTA PREP seeks to increase the coalition's capacity to prevent intimate partner violence. Through the participation in DELTA PREP, all staff at CCADV have been trained in primary prevention. We have also engaged the community educators of our member programs and started to increase their capacity by providing them with intensive training on primary preventive.  In the next six months, CCADV and its members will increase their understanding of community organizing, anti-oppression work, project planning and evaluation among other issues to develop a strong and sustainable primary prevention initiative. We have just started and we know that this path is going to be long and challenging but essential if we really want to eliminate domestic violence.   


National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month Press Conference

 

The Stamford Government Center was filled on February 8, 2011 with more than 200 students, elected officials, organizations/non profits and supporters for the National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month Press Conference. In the audience, high school students from Stamford, Greenwich, and Brien McMahon held up signs and banners to show their support in ending teen dating violence. Elected officials present included Michael Pavia, the mayor of Stamford, Richard Moccia , the mayor of Norwalk, Peter Tesei, the first selectman of Greenwich and State Representative Gerald Fox.  Kiley Young of the Office of the Child Advocate, Karen Brown of the Fairfield County Community Foundation, and Stamford police were also there.

 

The goal of the event was to raise public awareness and further establish a social change campaign. "We need a chorus of voices to create change [...] with a future free of abuse," said Lindsay Swatland, Mayor Youth Leadership Council and keynote presenter. "Teen dating violence is after all a persistent issue that affects everyone in the United States."

 

Nationally:

  • 10% teens surveyed were in a physical abusive dating relationship last year
  • 1 in 3 teens report knowing a friend or peer who has been physically hurt by their partner
  • 65% teens report that a partner checked up on him/her 10-30 times per day via phone
  • 35% young women who report partner violence also report coercion or birth control sabotage

 

In Connecticut:

  • 10% teens surveyed were in a physically abusive dating relationship last year
  • 17% teens were in an emotionally/verbally abusive dating relationship last year
  • 74% teens surveyed in Fairfield County believe verbal abuse is a serious issue among their peers who are in a dating relationship

 

 "It's not a cliché. Violence in any form is not acceptable. [Everyone should be] united to stop all forms of violence" - Mayor Richard Moccia.

 

Volume 11 Issue 1
In This Issue
Capitol News
Primary Prevention Initiative
National TDV Conference
Get the Tax Credits You Deserve
Upcoming Events

   Got free time and want to do some good? Consider volunteering! Have an extra car taking up precious garage space? Lend it to Cars4Causes!

 

You've Been Working Hard - Now Get the Tax Credits You Deserve!

 

Families in Connecticut: Whether or not you owe income tax, you could get thousands of dollars in tax credits. You could qualify for:

 

Up to $2,100 

 

 

Up to $5,666

 

 

Up to $1,000  

per child from the federal Child Tax Credit.

 

Up to $800  from the Making Work Pay Credit, if you haven't already received it in your take-home pay.

More families than ever are eligible for these credits this year. To get these credits, you must file a tax return.

 

Find out where you can get FREE help with your taxes by calling the IRS toll-free at (800) TAX-1040 or (800) 829-1040.

National Women's Law Center Tax Credits Outreach Campaign, 2011 Tax Filing Season



IF YOU BELIEVE IN OUR CAUSE 
   

The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) is working to create a Connecticut where domestic violence no longer exists. If you share this vision, please consider making a donation to CCADV.  Your support will help us continue our efforts to raise awareness about this pervasive problem and provide resources to domestic violence advocates across your community. 
Make a tax deductible contribution to CCADV by check to:
Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence
90 Pitkin Street
East Hartford, CT 06108

Upcoming Events

 

March 9 - April 2: Uplifting Art: A community art show  

  Reception for the Women's    Center  of SE CT 

March 23  

    5:30pm-7:30pm

       190 State Street 

          New London 

 

           March 19

         Bowl-a -Thon

Brought to you by the Women's Center in SE CT

1:00-5:00 pm  

Holiday Bowl, Groton

 

 

March 31
 
td411.org goes online

April 9

Domestic Violence Workshop

Hartford First Church  

of the Nazarene

932 Capital Avenue 

 Hartford, CT 06106

9:00 am-12:00 pm   

For more info contact Kai_Kai71@hotmail.com  


April 10 

"Parenting in the Age of Tiger Mom"

Hartford Public Library  

500 Main Street

Hartford 

2:00-4:00 pm

For more info: sneha@sneha.org


April 21

An Evening of  

Hope & Healing  

 Waterbury UCONN Campus Room 113-116

6:30-7:30pm.  

For more info contact 203-753-3613

 

May 6  9th Annual
'Shelter from the Storm'

Matrix Corporate Center
39 Old Ridgebury Road

Danbury 

6:00 - 10:00 pm

Purchase tickets or donate by calling (203) 731-5200

May 12

2nd Annual  

Light the Way Breakfast

Mystic Hilton

Mystic


Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV)
90 Pitkin Street
East Hartford, CT 06108 
(860) 282-7899
www.ctcadv.org

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