Domestic Violence Prevention, Inc

Bullying is a power and control imbalance that has plagued school children for generations. Bullying can be divided into two categories, direct (physical and verbal) and indirect (social exclusion and rumors). Studies show boys to be more involved in direct bullying and girls in indirect. Interpersonal Violence (IPV) exposure in the home is correlated with behavior problems and a higher propensity for aggression as seen in direct bullying but not with indirect bullying.

Most recent studies divide students into the following groups: bullies (perpetrators), victim-bully (victim of bullying as well as perpetrator), victim (victimization only). Adolescents with high parental support are less involved in all forms, making parental support a protective factor. Having more friends is associated with more bullying (bullies) and less victimization in both types of bullying supporting the “friendship protection hypothesis”.

Interesting findings in bullying research show that bullies as well as their victims (in the victim-bully group) are more likely to engage in violent behavior than children never involved in bullying. The victim-bully group stands out as the most vulnerable group with poorer psychosocial function than the other groups. Bullies are not found to be depressed loners but students with a network of friends for support.

Bullying Prevention Education should focus on the basic cause of bullying which is a power and control imbalance. Children who are victims should be empowered and helped to build a peer support network. The victim-bully group  should be assessed  with special attention to the “fringe group students” to make sure they are protected from bullying as well as prevented from perpetrating violence against others. Physically violent bullies should be assessed for IPV at home and in their dating relationships. Conflict resolution skills and anger management training should become part of any discipline plan directed at those who are physically violent, especially if they are experiencing IPV in the home environment. 

Article by Pam Dennington, Education Coordinator

Join us at TownePlace Suites for a night of fun! Cocktails and Couture will be held on Friday, July 30th from 5:30pm - 8:00pm at 5001 N Cowhorn Creek Loop in Texarkana (directly behind Red Lobster). All you need to join in on the fun is new or gently used interview clothing that will be used by our clients at the shelter. This event has been organized by The TownePlace Suites and Courtyard by Marriott as a part of the 2010 Marriott Spirit to Servce Our Community.

To RSVP for the event, please email bethanyc@intermtn.biz. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

 Even though  there are signs that the economy may be recovering, domestic violence shelters throughout the United States still report an increase of clients needing assistance. Along with the increase of violence, it has also been seen that the abuse is more severe according to the second “Mary Kay Truth About Abuse” national survey. More than 700 domestic violence shelters across the country were surveyed in March 2010. Shelters indicate that economic downturn of the last 18 months has increase the demand for their services, and also note their shelter’s ability to raise funds and provide services will be hampered over the next 12 months.

Detailed in the findings from the 2010 “Mary Kay Truth About Abuse” survey revel alarming trends including:

· 88 percent of domestic violence shelters expect their overall situation during the next 12 months will be worse than now, or the same as now, in light of the economy

· Three out of four domestic violence shelters (77 percent) report an increase in women seeking assistance from abuse

· 75 percent of shelters attribute this rise in abuse to “financial issues”

· 54 percent of shelters link this increase in domestic violence to “job loss”

· More than half (57 percent) of women in the shelters can’t find employment due to the economy

· 51 percent of shelters nationwide note the abuse is more violent now than before the economic downturn.

 These statistics are extremely important because it is showing that even though there may be an upturn in the economy, shelters are not optimistic when it comes to the number of clients that will need their help.

The Mary Kay Foundation has been involved in assisting individuals suffering from domestic violence for many years. There is a Mary Kay Domestic Violence Shelter Grant that is rewarded to 150 domestic violence shelters nationwide in the amount of $20,000. Domestic Violence Prevention of Texarkana has received one of the grants to assist our shelter and the clients who reside there. To date, the Foundation has donated nearly $22 million to women’s shelters and domestic violence programs across the United States.

Domestic Violence Prevention will be partnering with the Omega Psi Phi fraternity in an awareness event this weekend at Central Mall in Texarkana. The fraternity brothers will have two booths set up and will be distributing bags of information to mall patrons as a way to educate people on domestic violence, sexual assault, and the impact it has on our community.

We are hoping to do many more awareness events such as this. If you have a group that might be interested in helping, please call Ashley Smith at 903-794-4000. Together, we can make a difference!

DVP will hold a volunteer training on Tuesday, June 8th from 8am-2:30pm at 424 Spruce St, Texarkana, TX. The training will provide participants with a working knowledge of the agency, how we help our clients, and what volunteer opportunities are available. If you would like to attend, please call 903-794-4000 and ask for Ashley Smith.

Volunteers are the heart of Domestic Violence Prevention. Together, we can make a difference!

Even though Mother’s Day has come and gone, remember to thank the women in your life who have made such a difference. So many times the job of Mom is a thankless one. Take the time to say thank you to your mom and to any other woman in your life who has helped turn you into the person you are.

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.  ~Washington Irving

Put a plastic bag with canned goods on your mailbox this Saturday, May 8 for your mail carrier to pick up. This food will go to support local non-profit agencies in Texarkana that offer food to hungry people in our community! If each residence in Texarkana donated 4 canned goods, we could collect a total of 188,000 lbs of food! That is a lot of food! Hunger is such a basic need - let’s do our part to help our neighbors.

Domestic Violence Prevention will host our 12th Annual Antique/Classic Car & Motorcycle Show coming up April 10th with a rain date of April 17th here in Texarkana. The event will be held at Spring Lake Park in conjunction with the Caddo Area Boy Scouts Scout-O-Rama and Centennial Celebration. This is a huge fundraiser for Domestic Violence Prevention because it helps to support programs that we offer to clients that are not covered under grants.

This year we want to remember a special lady how helped us get the show started. Mary Brown and her husband Jim Brown were very instrumental in helping DVP get this event off the ground 12 years ago. Being car enthusiast themselves, they were able to offer suggestions and provide support to help make the show run smoothly. Mary passed away this year and we wanted to honor her by naming the car show in her memory.

If you are unable to attend the show but would like to make a donation in her memory, please send your donation to PO Box 712, Texarkana, TX 75504. For those who would like to register a car or motorcycle, please call Ashley Smith at 903-794-4000 for more information on how to register. This is going to be an event that you won’t want to miss!!!

It is that time of year again! We are getting set to open our 16th Annual Gift Wrap Store at Central Mall. This is one of our 2 major fundraisers to help fill in the gaps other funding does not cover. This fundraiser is very important this year as we have seen a lot more clients this year than years past. Please help support the Gift Wrap Store by coming to get presents wrapped and volunteering to help out! Volunteering at the Gift Wrap Store is a great way to give back to your community and get into the Christmas spirit!

Thank you for your support! Domestic Violence Prevention, Inc would like to extend a special thank you to our speaker, Vanessa Fields, and to the soloist, Bonnie Montgomery. We would also like to thank the Psychology Club of Texas A&M for sponsoring the event. Lastly, we would like to thank Texas A&M and TCC for allowing us to hold the event out there and for supplying us with tables, chairs, and the sound system.

We have all seen from the news that domestic violence is still an issue that we are facing. It is our hope that as awareness is brought to the issue we will be able to decrease the chance of domestic violence occurring. Thank you to everyone who supports Domestic Violence Prevention! We know that we wouldn’t be able to operate as we do without the generous help of our community!