(Hays, KS) - To many, October signifies the beginning of fall, trick-or-treaters, and even pumpkin spice lattes. But at Jana’s Campaign, October means so much more. It is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), a nationally recognized effort to raise awareness of and take a stand against gender-based violence.

Domestic violence is one of society’s largest problems and yet, it hides in plain sight. It is often thought about in terms of physical violence, but other behaviors to exert power and control, such as isolation, extreme jealousy, and unpredictability, often begin long before any physical violence takes place. DVAM is an opportunity to deepen our understanding of these issues and share resources. According to the CDC, one in four women and one in ten men will be the victim of domestic violence at some point in their lifetime, and, on average, three women are killed every day at the hands of a current or former intimate partner. Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence, regardless of status, age, race, gender, sexual orientation, or culture.

The issue of domestic violence has plagued our country for many years, and much has been accomplished to decrease the instances, but we still have a long way to go. We need solutions that engage men and boys, stop victim-blaming, and hold perpetrators accountable. We need young people to be educated on healthy – and unhealthy – relationship behaviors. We need more citizens to learn about the complexities of the issue, ways they can effectively intervene, and how to support those in their lives that are experiencing violence in their relationships. And we need prevention.

Jana’s Campaign has pledged to provide information on our social media accounts about domestic violence throughout the month of October. Please follow Jana’s Campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to help us raise awareness and educate yourself and those around you about domestic violence. Together, we can take a stand. And together, we can prevent the violence before it starts.

Jana’s Campaign is a national education and violence prevention organization with the single mission of reducing gender and relationship violence. In honor of the late Jana Mackey and other victims and survivors of gender and relationship violence, Jana’s Campaign delivers comprehensive, evidence-based educational programming that prevents domestic and dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking. To learn more visit www.JanasCampaign.org.

Hays, KS- Jana’s Campaign, a Kansas-based national education and violence prevention organization with the single mission of reducing gender and relationship violence, received Purple Ribbon Awards from DomesticShelters.org in the category of “Outstanding National Organization” and “Outstanding Youth Initiative of the Year.” Winners from more than 30 categories were announced July 17, 2021.

The Purple Ribbon Awards is the first comprehensive awards program honoring the countless heroes of the domestic violence movement, including advocates, programs, shelters, survivors and members of the community support system. These Awards are open to all organizations and individuals across the globe involved in the domestic violence field. Individuals or organizations may submit their applications or receive nominations from others.

“We are truly honored to receive this national recognition through the Purple Ribbon Awards,” said Jana’s Campaign Executive Director, Kaiti Dinges. “I continue to be so proud of the work we do in Kansas and beyond. I am grateful for those who support and believe in our work to prevent violence before it starts.”

After the submission process, judges ranked each entry on a scale of 1-25 based on four factors: 1) Challenge and Impact, 2) Creativity and Originality, 3) Submission Excellence and 4) Overall Performance. The three entries with the highest average score in each category received the coveted Purple Ribbon Award and a featured spot on DomesticShelters.org. Additionally, the most impressive entries across all categories will receive a portion of grants totaling up to $30,000 paid to the associated organization. Those organizations will be announced September 15, 2021.

“On behalf of Jana’s family and the founders of Jana’s Campaign, we are thrilled to receive this national award,” said Jana’s Campaign Co-Founder and Jana’s stepfather, Curt Brungardt. “It is a great confirmation of the work we are doing. It is also a great motivator for all of us connected with Jana’s Campaign--from staff members to donors to the schools that we work with--that our hard work is recognized. Let us keep the work going.”
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For More information on Jana’s Campaign, visit www.JanasCampaign.org.

The Jana's Campaign 2020 Annual Report is now available here.

Hays, KS - Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month is dedicated to raising awareness about healthy and unhealthy relationships, warning signs and prevention. Adolescents and adults are often unaware that teens experience dating violence. Unfortunately, it affects millions of teens in the U.S. each year. In 2010, to help raise awareness, the U.S. Congress enhanced what had been Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week to Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, based on the rising number of incidents in teens ages 11-17 across the country.
 
According to the 2017 Youth Behavior Surveillance Study report, nearly 1 in 11 female and 1 in 15 male high school students report having experienced physical dating violence. In addition, about 1 in 9 female and 1 in 36 male high school students report having experienced sexual dating violence. According to the Center of Disease Control, during the pre-teen and teen years, it is critical for youth to begin learning the skills needed to create and maintain healthy relationships (Preventing teen dating violence, 2020).

Unhealthy or violent relationships can have severe short and long-term effects on a developing teen. Studies show teens who experience relationship violence face additional risk for developing a violent relationship later in life. In addition, they are likely to develop depression, abuse substances, or think about suicide. As a community, we have a responsibility to make dating and domestic violence an intolerable act – anytime, anywhere. Jana’s Campaign is encouraged people of Hays and surrounding communities recognize this as a social issue that can be eradicated. We are extremely grateful for the hundreds of people who believe in the #PowerOfPrevention and help support and fund our work.
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To do our part for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, Jana’s Campaign has developed a Teen Dating Violence Awareness Toolkit to help communities understand, prevent and better respond to teen dating violence. The toolkit is free and can be found on the Jana’s Campaign website, www.janascampaign.org/awareness-toolkits.html. Additionally, Jana’s Campaign will post facts and statistics about Teen Dating Violence on our social media accounts throughout the month of February.
 
We believe through education we can change and improve attitudes, behaviors, customs, interactions, relations and social norms. Since 2013, Jana’s Campaign has worked with over 600 middle and high schools impacting over 73,000 students, including 6,065 K-12 students in Ellis County to educate about and prevent against gender and relationship violence. We commend these schools for understanding the importance of talking to their students about healthy and unhealthy relationships.
 
Throughout February and beyond, please join us in our efforts to educate and raise awareness about the hidden social disease of gender and relationship violence, dating and domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking. Learn more about Teen Dating Violence, our Teen Dating Violence Awareness Toolkit and Jana’s Campaign at www.janascampaign.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you are interested in inviting Jana’s Campaign  to your school or community, please contact us at janascampaign@gmail.com or call us at 785-656-0324.

(Hays, KS) - January is National Stalking Awareness Month. Nearly 1 in 6 women and 1 in 17 men have experienced stalking victimization at some point in their life (SPARC, 2018).

Stalking is defined as a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. It occurs in many different forms, including being followed/approached, unsolicited and repetitive phone calls or texts, unwanted notes or gifts, as well as showing up at the targeted person’s workplace or home. Stalking is a crime in all 50 states, U.S. Territories, the District of Columbia, and military and tribal lands. Although, the crime of stalking is often misunderstood, minimized and/or ignored.

Stalking is a terrifying and psychologically harmful crime as well as a predictor of other forms of serious violence. In 85% of cases where an intimate partner or ex intimate partner attempted to murder their partner, stalking took place in the year prior to the attack (SPARC, 2019). The behaviors used to stalk are manipulative tools used to gain power and keep control over another person. Victims of stalking often feel isolated, intimidated, fearful, and vulnerable.

Tips to consider if you or someone you know is being stalked:

1. Trust your instincts. Many times we tend to downplay a stalker’s behaviors, but stalking can possess a real threat.
   
2. Keep a record or log of any contact a stalker makes.
   
3. Since stalking can occur through technology, save emails, text messages, voicemails, or any posts online for evidence.
   
4. Contact your local domestic violence agency to create a safety plan.
   
5. Call 911 if you feel you are in danger.
   

​We, at Jana’s Campaign, believe we all have a role to play in identifying and preventing stalking behaviors as well as supporting victims and survivors. Learn more about these behaviors and how to prevent stalking by visiting www.stalkingawareness.org. 

Impact Report 2017-2019 - The Jana's Campaign 2017-2019 Impact Report is now available here.

(Hays, KS) – This week welcomes October and National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Domestic violence is one of society’s largest social problems and it hides in plain sight. DVAM is an opportunity to deepen our understanding of these issues and share resources.
 
Nationally 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men have experienced gender-based violence by an intimate partner or ex-intimate partner (CDC, 2019). Domestic violence is a leading contributor of injuries, chronic health issues, high-risk health behaviors, and creates a significant strain on the healthcare system. Growing evidence shows the long-term impact of emotional and mental trauma from violence carries an additional likelihood of disease and illness.
 
Domestic violence takes on many forms. It can be verbal, emotional, psychological, digital, sexual, and/or physical abuse. It can be extreme jealousy, possessiveness, unwanted touching, coercion, and excessive arguments. And it is ALL about power and control. Domestic violence occurs in every community across the country, and can happen to anyone regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or economic status. In Kansas alone, domestic violence claimed 37 lives in 2018 (KBI, 2018).

Throughout the month of October, Jana’s Campaign pledges to share 31 facts about domestic violence on our social media accounts. A fact per day. Our hope is that you increase your understanding of this complex issue and utilize the information to become a part of the collective voice of individuals, families, activists, institutions, and systems who are working to prevent domestic violence. To access this information, please follow Jana’s Campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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“Violence is a learned behavior, and we can unlearn violence. The only way we can create a society that does not accept violence, is to become educated on the issue and then start a conversation about what we know. While I know these conversations can be uncomfortable, I also know that no social issue has been solved by not talking about it.” Kaiti Dinges, Executive Director of Jana’s Campaign.

https://www.wibw.com/2020/09/17/doj-helps-protect-women-grants-500000-to-ywca/  ​