HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The Open Arms Staff and Board of Directors would like to wish our clients, volunteers and community a safe and happy holiday season!  

Subaru "Share the Love" Program to Benefit Open Arms

 

The Subaru "Share the Love" program, running November 20, 2014 - January 2, 2015 at LaRiche Toyota-Subaru, was established by Subaru of America, Inc. as a way to bring Subaru owners together to make a difference in the community while showcasing Subaru’s vehicles.

 

This year, in a continued effort to support the charities involved in the “Share the Love” program, Subaru will increase the donation from $10 million to $15 million, which will bring the total donations over the past seven years of the “Share the Love” program to $50 million.

 Subaru of America, Inc. donates $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased from November 20, 2014 – January 2, 2015 to one of the following selected charities:

o ASPCA®

o Make-A-Wish ®

o Meals on Wheels Association of America®

o National Park Foundation

o Open Arms Domestic Violence & Rape Crisis Services

 In 2013, Subaru introduced a “Hometown Charity” program to the campaign, which allows each retailer to select a local charity within their community to be added to the list of organizations that customers can select to receive a donation.

Subaru “Share the Love” takes place nationwide and all 622 Subaru retailers have participated to make a real impact through the program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

House Passes Eight Bills to Combat Human Trafficking

	OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN Robert E. Latta FIFTH DISTRICT OF OHIO 2448 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-6405
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 25, 2014		Contact: Sarah Criser Office: (202) 225-6405

House Passes Eight Bills to Combat Human Trafficking

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH) today issued the following statement applauding the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage this week of eight bills to combat human trafficking.

“Human sex trafficking is a $9.8 billion illicit industry, which is especially prevalent in Ohio, as Toledo has some of the highest human trafficking rates in the country and more than 1,000 people are victims of sex trafficking in the state each year,” said Latta. “This week, I was proud to join my colleagues in passing eight pieces of legislation that will help combat this growing epidemic, save lives and give hope to human trafficking victims around the world. I will also continue to work to defend our most vulnerable citizens, so we may end this horrific exploitation and abuse once and for all.”

H.R. 5111, to improve the response to victims of child sex trafficking, would update federal law to make clear that child prostitution is a form of child sex trafficking and should be reported to the CyberTipline at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

H.R. 5081, the Strengthening Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act, would improve practices within state child welfare systems to identify and document sex trafficking victims. 

H.R. 5076, the Enhancing Services for Runaway and Homeless Victims of Youth Trafficking Act, would improve support provided specifically to runaway and homeless youth who are victims of sex trafficking.

H.R. 4980, the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act, includes numerous provisions that would encourage states to reduce the incidence of sex trafficking among youth in foster care, empower and promote normalcy for foster youth, quickly move more children from foster care into adoptive homes or the homes of relatives, and increase the amount of child support provided to families in which one parent is outside of the United States. 

H.R. 5135, the Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act, would direct the U.S. State Department’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking to conduct a review and issue a report on the best strategies for preventing children from becoming victims of trafficking.

H.R. 5116, the Human Trafficking Detection Act, would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to implement a program that would train Department of Homeland Security personnel how to effectively deter, detect, disrupt and prevent human trafficking during the course of their primary roles and responsibilities.

H.R. 4449, the Human Trafficking Prevention Act, would require certain State Department personnel to undergo training to identify victims of human trafficking around the world.

H.R 2283, the Human Trafficking Prioritization Act, would elevate the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons to a Bureau within the State Department to better prioritize the fight against human trafficking without increasing the size of the federal government.

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2014 Charity Golf Classic Coming in September!

6th Annual Walk a Mile In Her Shoes

Open Arms Domestic Violence & Rape Crisis Services proudly presents the 6th Annual Walk A Mile In Her Shoes®, sponsored by The Union Bank Company.  The event will be held on Saturday, April 26 at Riverside Park.  Hancock County men, women and boys will walk one mile in women’s high heeled shoes to raise awareness and educate the community about domestic violence and sexual assault.   

We are seeking individual walkers, business & organization teams and volunteers for the event.  Sign up is available online at www.openarmsfindlay.org.  We also have the option to become a Virtual Walker!  Registration for the event begins at 10:30am, with an opening ceremony at 11:30 a.m.   

This is a family-friendly event with a free Kids Zone.  The Kids Zone will feature face painting, arts and crafts tables, an inflatable bounce house and Spongebob himself will be there!  Food vendors, massage stations and sponsor areas will be set up throughout Riverside Park.  Fantastic prizes and awards will be given during the Awards Ceremony immediately following the walk.

To register as a walker, virtual walker, team or volunteer, visit www.openarmsfindlay.org or call Jodi DeVore at Open Arms, 419.420.9261.

5,000,000 Steps To End Violence

This April, Chase Noller and Brent Kidd begin their six month Appalachian Trail journey.  Support their adventure, while also serving those affected by domestic violence and sexual assault.  70% of donations benefit Open Arms Domestic Violence & Rape Crisis Services.

Attorney General DeWine Awards Nearly $1 Million in Rape Crisis Program Grant Funding

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that he has awarded 25 rape crisis centers in Ohio with a total of nearly $1 million in new grant funding.  

"This is the first time that money from Ohio's new Rape Crisis Program Trust Fund is being used, so these are additional resources that can now go towards helping survivors of sexual assault," said Attorney General DeWine.  "The funds will help strengthen and expand upon the services and support these agencies currently provide, which are essential in the recovery process after a traumatic assault."

The following 23 agencies, which meet all core services as defined by the Core Standards for Rape Crisis Programs in Ohio, will each receive a grant $36,789 to be used to help sexual assault survivors: 

• Women Helping Women, Cincinnati       
• Ohio University, Athens
• Appleseed Community Mental Health Center, Ashland
• YWCA of Northwest Ohio, Toledo
• Liberty Center Connections/Every Woman's House, Wooster
• Tri-County Help Center, St. Clairsville
• The SAAFE Center/Behavioral Connections, Bowling Green
• Council on Domestic Violence/Open Arms, Findlay
• The Rape Crisis Center of Medina & Summit Counties, Akron
• Crime Victim Services, Lima
• Townhall II, Kent
• Project Woman, Springfield
• OhioHealth Research Institute/SARNCO, Columbus
• The Nord Center/Lorain County Rape Crisis Center, Lorain
• Lake County Prosecutor, Painesville
• HelpLine of Delaware and Morrow Counties, Delaware
• Haven of Hope, Cambridge
• EVE Incorporated, Marietta
• The Domestic Violence Shelter, Mansfield
• COMPASS, New Philadelphia
• Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Cleveland
• American Red Cross, Canton
• Abuse and Rape Crisis Shelter of Warren County, Lebanon

One program, which meets some, but not all of the core services, will receive an expansion grant in the amount of $8,842 to assist with implementing new services:

• Erie County Prosecutor, Sandusky

In addition, one statewide training grant, which is available only to agencies that are federally-recognized statewide sexual assault coalitions, was awarded in the amount of $95,000:

• Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, Cleveland 

Ohio's Rape Crisis Program Trust Fund was established as part of House Bill 108, which was sponsored by state representatives Nan Baker (R-Westlake) and Kirk Schuring (R-Canton).  The bill was amended into Ohio's 2014-2015 operating budget.  The Ohio Attorney General's Office administers the fund. 

Febraury 14 is V-Day: A Global Movement to End Violence Against Women and Girls Worldwide

Join the V-Day movement on February 14 to end violence against women and girls worldwide.  For more information visit http://www.vday.org or http://onebillionrising.org

February: Teen Dating Violence & Prevention Month

During the month of February, the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS), a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, is recognizing National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.  

 

Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month brings national focus to the issue of teen dating violence, highlights the need to educate youth about healthy relationships, raises awareness among those who care for them and provides communities with a critical opportunity to work together to prevent this devastating cycle of abuse.

The Ohio Family Violence Prevention Center (FVPC), housed at OCJS, serves as an information clearinghouse for public and private organizations as they provide assistance to victims and offers a variety of services such as providing victim advocacy/assistance, organizing workshops, giving presentations and conducting research on family violence and its impact on communities.  The Ohio Family Violence Prevention Advisory Council, a part of the Center, is where Ohio’s top experts in domestic and family violence prevention come together to consider and recommend improvements in the state.  Most recently, the Council, along with other lead agencies in the state, provided guidance and assistance for HB 19, the Tina Croucher Act, which requires schools to adopt policies to prevent and address abusive relationships.

               
The Purpose
The repercussions of teen dating violence are impossible to ignore - the issue affects not just youth but their families, schools and communities as well. Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) brings national focus to the issue of teen dating violence, highlights the need to educate our youth about healthy relationships, raises awareness among those who care for them and provides communities with a critical opportunity to work together to prevent this devastating cycle of abuse.

 

The History of TDVAM
The Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Initiative was spearheaded by teenagers across the nation who chose to take a stand and put a stop to teen dating violence. In 2005, the importance of addressing teen dating violence was highlighted by its inclusion in the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

Now supported by dozens of national, state and local organizations, the call to end teen dating violence was formally recognized by Congress in 2006. At that time, both Houses of Congress declared the first full week in February "National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week."

For the third consecutive year, our leaders in Congress are dedicating an entire month to teen dating violence awareness and prevention. To celebrate, we are calling upon government representatives and agencies, public officials, advocates, service providers, schools, parents and youth to take part in programs and activities that promote awareness and prevention of teen dating violence.

January is National Stalking Awareness Month

January is National Stalking Awareness Month.  Check out the Stalking Resource Center's website for information about criminal and civil stalking laws by state, as well as federal stalking laws, tribal codes, and the uniform code of military justice.

 http://www.victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/stalking-resource-center/stalking-laws