Archive for September, 2009
Brian, a Turning Point Volunteer, called my attention to this story which ran recently on NPR:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that about 1 in 10 adolescents reports an experience with physical violence from a dating partner. If other forms of abusive violence are included — from being threatened or emotionally harassed, to name-calling and insults — that number goes way up.
Where does this behavior come from? Dave Wolfe, a professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Toronto, Ontario, developed a curriculum for Canadian schools that’s being adopted in the United States. He says it isn’t fair to blame the family or a teen’s environment.
The exception is exposure to violence; that’s a known risk factor for increasing the likelihood that a young person would engage in violent behavior.
“Everyone agrees that violence is learned,” Wolfe says. “Someone is teaching it.” He points the finger at the violent and abusive culture kids absorb in adolescence. “It is worse today because of all the different media they can be exposed to,” he says, such as cyberbullying and video games. “Violence is entertainment. It’s fun. They take out their cell phones whenever there is a fight. They put it on YouTube.”
You can read (or listen to) the whole story here.
September 29 2009 | In the news | No Comments »
Today’s Northwest Herald editorial:
“Many people have suffered wage cuts, furloughs and worse. The line between getting by and foundering has, for this generation, never been so close for so many.
Area pantries are serving record numbers of people who need food. The Salvation Army earlier this month suspended its emergency assistance program for lack of funds. In the past, it’s been a place to which those growing desperate could turn for help with things such as rent or prescription medicines.
The list goes on. Clearly, the needs are many.
United Way of Greater McHenry County supports 52 programs at 26 local human-service agencies. These include the Adult & Child Rehabilitation Center for McHenry County, Catholic Charities, and Prairie State Legal Services, to name a few.
The United Way estimates that one in five people in McHenry County has been touched in some way by one of the organizations it supports.
Maybe you can help.”
You can read the whole story here.
September 24 2009 | Fundraising and In the news | No Comments »
“After exceeding its goal last year under a shrinking economy, the United Way of Greater McHenry County is aiming even higher. The organization on Tuesday kicked off the 2009-10 campaign at Family Service and Community Mental Health Center in McHenry, setting a goal of $1,825,000, compared with $1.75 million last year.
“You say to yourself, with this economy, that’s pretty audacious, isn’t it?” board President Gene Brickhouse said. “But we’re a pretty audacious group of people, aren’t we?”
United Way of Greater McHenry County serves 26 local human-service agencies through funding 52 programs. Agency partners include Turning Point, the Pioneer Center for Human Services, and the Light Center Foundation.
To donate or for information about running a United Way campaign, go to www.uwmchenry.org. ”
You can read the whole story here.
September 22 2009 | Fundraising and In the news | No Comments »
“ELGIN - The 2nd District appellate court upheld a former Bull Valley businessman’s conviction for trying to kill his wife, McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi said.
Bianchi said he expected Billy J. Cox, 68, would try to take his case to the Illinois Supreme Court. But Bianchi said he was “very satisfied” with the appellate court’s ruling.
“He is an evil person, and I’m glad for Mrs. Cox that [the conviction] was affirmed,” Bianchi said.
Cox is serving a 20-year prison sentence for hitting his former wife, Carolyn Cox, three times in the face and then locking her in a garage with two cars running. He is scheduled to be paroled in February 2022, when he would be 80 years old.”
You can read the whole story here.
September 22 2009 | In the news | No Comments »
- Side walkers Mick Kurowski (left) and Gina Brittwork with four-year-old Savannah Jablonski of Twin Lakes, Wis., on a horse named Dolly during a riding session at the Main Stay Therapeutic Riding Program in Richmond. (Photo by Travis Haughton)
McHenry County Magazine had such a great story today I HAD to share:
“The use of animals for human therapy, whether it be horses, dogs or other animals, has grown in both frequency and awareness as more come to realize just how effective they can be. “Animals change lives,” says Sara Foszcz, who founded Main Stay Therapeutic Riding in Richmond.
Instructors and horses work with children with developmental, physical and learning disabilities, abused children, paraplegics, sexual assault victims and children deemed at risk. The latest students include a group of seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.
“I think animals have a real innate sense of what a person needs,” Foszcz says. “They don’t make judgements. They reflect so well what a person’s reflecting right back to that person. They’re such good teachers and they don’t hold grudges.””
You can read the whole story here.
September 22 2009 | In the news and Programs | No Comments »
A couple of items from the Northwest Herald:
“Aerial photos of the city of Chicago are on display and available to buy at the Conscious Cup in Crystal Lake.
The panoramic photos, taken by local photographer Robin Pendergrast, were shot two months ago, reflecting the city’s reshaped skyline. Black-and-white, sepia and color images are on display through Sept. 30, and 20 percent of sales will go to Turning Point, an organization that confronts violence against women and children in McHenry County.” You can read the whole story here.
Also, did you see Executive Director Jane Farmer’s Letter to the Editor this weekend? “On Aug. 28 and 29, Star 105.5 hosted its fourth annual radiothon to benefit Turning Point, McHenry County’s only comprehensive domestic violence agency and shelter.
Held at Sam’s Club in Crystal Lake, there were 36 hours of entertainment, education and information encouraging the community to donate to support the programs and services that Turning Point provides.” You can read the whole letter here.
September 22 2009 | In the news | No Comments »
You probably need a “before & after” to appreciate this post.
Andrew Rothan of Troop 158 in Crystal Lake has TRANSFORMED our workroom as part of his Eagle Scout Project! He cleaned & organized our storage area and even got us a new set of tools and a tool box donated! Our volunteer handy man Tom McGraw has made do with the most ramshackle assortment of supplies that he was quite overcome by this upgrade!
September 21 2009 | Volunteers | No Comments »
October is “National Domestic Violence Awareness Month” and has been declared “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” by Woodstock, Cary, Algonquin & Crystal Lake.
Since October 1987, this designation has called attention to the issue of Domestic Violence and to offer support to victims everywhere. Locally, Turning Point serves about 1700 victims of domestic violence annually and observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month locally with projects and events to call attention to those victims across McHenry County.
On October 14th, the 22nd Judicial Circuit Family Violence Coordinating council will hold a candlelight vigil to commemorate Domestic Violence Awareness month and to support victims of domestic violence in our community. The vigil will be held at 6:00 PM in the Woodstock Square Wednesday October 14th. The event will feature numerous speakers on the topic of domestic violence.
One week later, on Thursday October 22, Turning Point will celebrate 28 years of service to McHenry County at its annual dinner. The dinner will feature an award ceremony to honor several people and organizations that have worked to make our communities more peaceful.
Accepting the “Peace and Justice” Award, honoring those in the legal profession who make our world a more peaceful place, will be three attorneys from the McHenry County States’ Attorneys office, Nichole Owens, Demetri Tsilimigras and Patrick Kenneally. These prosecutors are being recognized for their effect use of evidence based prosecutions in domestic violence cases.
Receiving the “Partnership” award will be Home State Bank. Home State has not only been a staunch supporter of turning point for many years, they have facilitated the processing of donations for Turning Point’s annual “Take a Stand for Turning Point.”
Star 105.5’s Erica Lorenz will accept the “Dreamweaver” award, given each year to a volunteer who made a difference in the world. Lorenz is instrumental in “Take a Stand for Turning Point” and devotes countless hours to the radiothon through out the year. Also receiving the “Dreamweaver” award will be race car driver Jessica Brannam. Brannam wears the Turning Point logo proudly displayed on her jumpsuit and has worn it as she drove her Go-Kart to her 24 National Championships, 20 Regional Championships and 211 feature race victories. Jessica has driven all sorts of vehicles and recently took her NASCAR Rookie Test. Brannam also donates all her race winnings to Turning Point.
In addition to the presentation of awards, the evening will feature a “50/50” Raffle. Winner need not be present to win and raffle tickets ($25 each or 5 for $100) may be obtained by calling Turning Point at 815 338 8081.
The evening kicks off with a cash bar & reception at 6:30 PM on October 22, with dinner and program to follow. Tickets to the Annual Dinner are $75 per person and available by calling Turning Point at 815 338 8081.
September 21 2009 | Events and Fundraising and Programs | No Comments »
From Reuters:
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Justice
today commemorated the 15th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act
(VAWA), which was signed into law on September 13, 1994. This critical
legislation was created in recognition of the severity of the crimes
associated with domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. The
anniversary also marks 15 years since the creation of the Department's Office
on Violence Against Women (OVW), which administers financial and technical
assistance to communities around the country to facilitate the creation of
programs, policies and practices aimed at ending domestic and dating violence,
sexual assault and stalking.
"We've made tremendous progress since the Violence Against Women Act first
passed in 1994, but we have much more to do. We cannot rest. It will take
all of us to fulfill the promise to end domestic violence and sexual assault,"
said Vice President Joe Biden, the author of the landmark Violence Against
Women Act.
"The Violence Against Women Act forever changed the way this nation meets our
responsibility to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. It has
been an essential building block in the Justice Department's work to end
violence against women," said Attorney General Eric Holder. "It is only in
working together that we can make a difference and save lives, and the Justice
Department will continue to take every possible step to enforce laws
protecting victims of violence and to provide resources to aid victim service
providers."
"Without a doubt, VAWA would never have happened without the steadfast
commitment and work of the countless advocates, coalitions and community
partners who worked tirelessly for federal legislation to mark the importance
of the issue and provide vital resources," said Catherine Pierce, Acting
Director of OVW. "In the past 15 years, countless lives have been saved, the
voices of survivors have been heard, families have been protected, and the
criminal justice community has been trained on the complex responses to
domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking."
The anniversary marks the start of a year-long anniversary effort to raise
public awareness on issues around violence against women, to reinforce and
build coalitions among federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and
victim services communities, and to reinforce the goal of ending domestic and
dating violence, sexual assault and stalking for men, women and children
across the country.
In recognition of the severity of the crimes associated with gender-motivated
violence, Congress passed VAWA as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law
Enforcement Act of 1994. VAWA is comprehensive legislative designed to end
violence against women through criminal penalties, civil remedies, federal
grant programs, and research and was reauthorized in 2000 and 2005. Since the
passage of VAWA, there has been a paradigm shift in how the issue of violence
against women is addressed in communities throughout the nation.
OVW was created to specifically implement VAWA and subsequent legislation.
Currently, OVW administers two formula grant programs and 17 discretionary
grant programs, all of which were established under VAWA and subsequent
legislation. The office has also maintained a 15-year partnership with state,
local and tribal governments, coalitions, law enforcement, prosecutors, judges
and court personnel, victim advocates, health care providers and national
organizations.
Every day, VAWA funding makes a difference in how communities across America
help victims and hold offenders accountable. For example, subgrantees
receiving funding awarded by states through OVW's STOP Violence Against Women
Formula Grant Program reported that, in calendar year 2007:
-- More than 505,000 victims were served;
-- Over 1,201,000 services were provided to victims; and
-- More than 4,700 individuals were arrested for violations of protection
orders.
September 18 2009 | In the news and Programs | No Comments »
“McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi is pleased to announce that Assistant State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally successfully prosecuted another evidence-based prosecution case.
Donald Jordan was charged with Aggravated Domestic Battery (felony offense) in September 2007 for striking his wife with an iron key chain resulting in 2 lacerations which required sutures.
Assistant State’s Attorney Kenneally went forward with the case despite the unavailability of the victim as a witness.
He planned to present photos of the victim, blood evidence in the home and the victim’s statement to a hospital nurse as evidence.
The defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 2 years probation, 60 days McHenry County jail, successful completion of partner abuse classes, no contact with the victim, $1,000.00 fine and agreed to consume no alcohol during the period of probation.
Additionally, the defendant had a prior domestic battery conviction. Under Illinois law, a defendant may be eligible for a felony on the second offense.
The evidence-based prosecution approach to domestic violence was initiated by the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office in 2007 to increase the number of successful domestic violence prosecutions in which the victim is uncooperative and/or unavailable for testimony.”
Kenneally is one of three McHenry County Prosecutors who will be honored at the Turning Point Annual Dinner on October 22 for this innovative prosecution. felony conviction was entered upon his record. The defendant was eligible for a felony charge because the victim suffered great bodily harm.
September 16 2009 | In the news and Programs | No Comments »
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