3rd ANNUAL WALK A MILE IN HER SHOES®

Open Arms is proud to announce the 3rd annual Walk A Mile In Her Shoes® event, scheduled for Saturday, April 30, 2011 at Riverside Park in Findlay. Once again, local men and boys will walk one mile in high heel shoes to speak out against domestic violence and sexual assault.

Online registration is available for walkers, teams and volunteers at http://www.openarmsfindlay.org/. This year's walk is sure to be a hit for the entire family with the new Kid's Zone area! This free area will feature arts and craft areas sponsored by Something Special Learning Center, as well as face painting, balloon animals, inflatables, and Spongebob himself!!!

This fun filled event includes vendors, concessions, prizes and awards and a raffle for a stainless steel dishwasher sponsored by Whirlpool Corporation!

For more information about the event, call 419-420-9261. For more information about Walk A Mile In Her Shoes®: The Men's March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault and Gender Violence visit http://www.walkamileinhershoes.org/. Licensed by Frank Baird and Walk A Mile In Her Shoes®, a Venture Humanity, Inc. Project.

Take Action Today: Protect Funding for Victims

Urge the House of Representatives to Oppose Funding Cuts for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Programs!

Congress has been operating on a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR), which funds all federal programs at last year’s funding levels. The CR will expire in March, so the House of Representatives is now working on proposed funding levels for all programs through the end of this fiscal year. All federal programs are being considered for cuts, including funding for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). These are all funding sources Open Arms receives.

As the demand for services continues to far outstrip available resources, federal funding cuts would further threaten the ability of programs to respond to the needs of victims fleeing life-threatening violence. Federal funds are vital to keep programs open and serve victims in need.
Congress needs to hear that domestic violence and sexual assault programs are important to their constituents! Tell Representative Jordan to oppose cuts to these lifesaving programs.

Take action now!

Please take five minutes to call your Representative and tell them that this funding is vital and victims’ need them to preserve current funding levels.

Call 1-866-997-6651 to reach the Congressional Switchboard and ask them to transfer you to your Representative Jordan’s Office.

What to say when you call:
Hello, my name is______, I am a constituent from Findlay, Ohio.
I am calling to urge the Congressman Jordan to preserve current funding for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). These laws support lifesaving programs for victims of domestic and sexual violence in our district.
The demand for lifesaving domestic and sexual violence services far outpaces available resources. Victims of these crimes are counting on Congress to pass a FY 2011 funding bill that preserves current funding levels for domestic violence and sexual assault programs throughout the country.

What will happen next?
The House of Representatives’ bill is just the first step in the process. After the House completes its bill, the Senate will work on its version of the funding bill. The House and Senate bills will need to be combined, and then the final bill will be sent to the President for his signature. Your response to this Action Alert is critical to helping the Senate negotiate anticipated House cuts.

Thank you for taking action to support this critical funding!

Presidential Proclamation--National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, 2011

National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month reflects our Nation's growing understanding that violence within relationships often begins during adolescence. Each year, about one in four teens report being the victim of verbal, physical, emotional, or sexual violence. Abusive relationships can impact adolescent development, and teens who experience dating violence may suffer long-term negative behavioral and health consequences. Adolescents in controlling or violent relationships may carry these dangerous and unhealthy patterns into future relationships. The time to break the cycle of teen dating violence is now, before another generation falls victim to this tragedy.

Though many communities face the problem of teen dating violence, young people can be afraid to discuss it, or they may not recognize the severity of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Parents and other adults can also be uncomfortable acknowledging that young people experience abuse, or may be unaware of its occurrence. To help stop abuse before it starts, mentors and leaders must stress the importance of mutual respect and challenge representations in popular culture that can lead young people to accept unhealthy behavior in their relationships.

Our efforts to take on teen dating violence must address the social realities of adolescent life today. Technology such as cell phones, email, and social networking websites play a major role in many teenagers' lives, but these tools are sometimes tragically used for control, stalking, and victimization. Emotional abuse using digital technology, including frequent text messages, threatening emails, and the circulation of embarrassing messages or photographs without consent, can be devastating to young teens. I encourage concerned teens, parents, and loved ones to contact the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline at 1-866-331-9474 or visit www.LoveIsRespect.org to receive immediate and confidential advice and referrals.

During National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month -- and throughout the year -- let each of us resolve to do our part to break the silence and create a culture of healthy relationships for all our young people. Adults who respect themselves, their partners, and their neighbors demonstrate positive behaviors to our children -- lessons that will help them lead safe and happy lives free from violence.

Safe Helpline to Launch February 7

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) will be launching the DoD Safe Helpline on February 7, 2011. This is a groundbreaking crisis support service for members of the active duty military community affected by sexual assault.

Safe Helpline provides live, one-on-one advice, support, and information to the worldwide DoD community. The service is anonymous, secure, and available 24/7 - providing victims with the help they need, anytime, anywhere.

Specially trained Safe Helpline staff provide help in three ways. The Online services provide live, confidential help through a secure instant-messaging format at SafeHelpline.org. Victims who prefer to get help by telephone can call 877-995-5247. Members of the DoD community will also be able to text their zip code or installation name to 55247 (in the US) or 202-470-5546 (outside the US) and contact information for a local Sexual Assault Response Coordinator will be sent back.

SAINN is a member of the National Sexual Assault Hotline. Locally, Open Arms has received 38 referrals from the National Sexual Assault Hotline in the past year alone. For more information, visit www.RAINN.org.