Ohio Fails State-By-State Report Card

Ohio failed the State-By-State Teen Dating Violence Report Card for the second year since Break the Cycle, a teen violence prevention organization, issued them. States are graded on a system which assigns positive and negative points to their laws regarding domestic violence and protection offered to teens experiencing dating violence. Ohio is among 11 states that failed the report, as Ohio does not allow teen victims’ access to a domestic violence protection order. New legislation could change this by offering protection to teens.

House Bill 10, sponsored by Rep. Edna Brown (D-Toledo), would allow juvenile court judges to issue protection orders to juveniles who are victims of dating violence. Currently, Ohio law requires that one must be 18 years of age or older to obtain a protection order. This law prevented Johanna Orozco, a 20-year-old Cleveland native, from receiving a protection order in 2007; her former boyfriend later stalked her and shot her in the face.

House Bill 19, sponsored by Rep. Sandra Harwood (D-Niles), would require school districts to adopt dating abuse policies and education in the classroom. This bill, dubbed “Tina’s Law” after 18-year-old Tina Croucher of Cincinnati who was murdered by her former boyfriend in 1992, is introduced again after dying in the Senate last year.

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray supports HB 10 and HB 19. The bills are currently in hearings but still must be voted on by the Senate.

Open Arms conducted an anonymous survey to collect information about whether this issue is specifically impacting our own teens. In survey of about 200 Hancock County youth aged 13-19, 35% said they know someone who has been the victim of teen dating violence, and 50% know someone who has been the victim of sexual assault.

Open Arms encourages contacting your local state senator and representative to support the passage of HB 10 and HB 19, which will protect victims of teen violence and provide teen dating violence prevention education.

Use our letter as a template to write or call your State Senator or State Representative. Scroll down to the "More Information Box" at the bottom of the page and click on "Teen Dating Violence" to get the letter and to read Ohio's report card. Findlay residents can contact State Representative Cliff Hite at (614) 466-3819, and State Senator Stephen Buehrer at (614) 466-8150.

One Month Until Heels!

The countdown to Walk A Mile In Her Shoes: The International Men's March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence has officially begun! Today marks exactly one month until April 25, 2009 - track the time yourself by following our countdown timer at the bottom of the page.

Walk A Mile In Her Shoes asks men to raise awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault in a unique way - by walking one mile in women's high heeled shoes! We are excited for the community to put their best foot forward and walk to end violence - even Mayor Sehnert has agreed to walk!

Every one in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Would you put yourself in her shoes? Step up and join us!

Walk A Mile In Her Shoes - Saturday, April 25, 2009

Dorney Plaza, Downtown Findlay & Coordinating Parade Route

Registration: 10am

Opening Ceremony: 11:30am

Walk Start: 12pm

Reception & Awards: 1pm

If you would like to walk or challenge a friend or co-worker to walk, visit the "More Information" box at the bottom of this page and click on the "Walk A Mile In Her Shoes" folder for the forms. If you're interested in volunteering, please call us at 419.420.9261.

Open Arms to Host "Investigating Sex Crimes" Training

Open Arms will host Gordon Goodrow, a senior detective with the Lower Paxton Police Department in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Goodrow will present “Investigating Sex Crimes,” training for law enforcement, prosecutors, medical personnel, advocates and other professionals on March 30 and 31 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at The Family Center.

Last month, Open Arms reported a 30% increase in the number of sexual assaults handled by the county’s Sexual Assault Response Team through the Blanchard Valley Emergency Department in 2008. A community task force is in place to address this issue, and Open Arms offers Goodrow’s training to further educate professionals working with victims and offenders of sex crimes.

The training is a one day training. The curriculum is being repeated a second day to allow agencies to stagger personnel schedules and allow more officers to attend. The Hancock County ADAMHS Board has underwritten the training so that the cost is free to professionals serving Hancock County and only $10 to out of county professionals. CEU’s and CNE’s will be provided. CLE’s are pending.

Goodrow has been in law enforcement for more than 20 years and as a detective is specially trained in sexual assault investigations, child pornography, child abuse, interview and interrogation, and homicide. He is a frequent trainer and has presented at statewide conferences. For more information about the “Investigating Sex Crimes” training, call Open Arms at 419-420-9261

Robin Givens and Denise Brown on "Larry King Live"

The recent case involving celebrities Rihanna and Chris Brown has brought public attention to violence against women yet again. Last night on "Larry King Live" guest host Joy Behar interviewed Robin Givens and Denise Brown. The topic of the discussion: domestic violence.

In the interview, Givens, actress and ex-wife of heavyweight champ Mike Tyson, shares her experience and history of abuse. Brown, sister of Nicole Brown who was O.J. Simpson's former wife, discusses the cycle of domestic violence. Both Givens and Brown visited Findlay to talk about this issue at Open Arms' Annual Meetings, Givens in October 2008 and Brown in October 2007.

Watch their interview here on our blog to learn more.