Hays, KS; Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) is dedicated to raising awareness about healthy-and-unhealthy relationships, common warning signs, and prevention efforts. According to data from the CDC’s 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, about 1 in 12 high school students experienced physical or sexual dating violence during the 12 months before the survey was administered. These pre-teen and teen years are the most crucial time for youth to begin learning the skills necessary to create and maintain healthy relationships (CDC, 2019).

We at Jana’s Campaign believe through primary prevention education programs we can change and improve attitudes, behaviors, interactions, and social norms for young people. Since 2013, our Violence Prevention Educators have worked with over 647 middle and high schools impacting almost 86,000 K-12 students in Kansas, Colorado, and Nebraska. We commend these schools for understanding the importance of talking to their students about healthy-and-unhealthy relationships.

Jana’s Campaign recognizes Teen Dating Violence (TDV) as a prevalent public health issue affecting millions of adolescents around the world. This not only affects youth mentally, emotionally, and physically; but their long-term health can be impacted. TDV creates a significantly increased risk of disordered eating, anxiety, stress symptoms and depression, suicidal ideation and/or attempts, smoking, alcohol and drug use, and an overall diminished emotional well-being.

Teen Dating Violence can include four main types of unhealthy behavior: 

• Physical violence is when a person hurts or tries to hurt a partner by hitting, kicking, shoving, slapping, spitting, and/or using another type of physical force or threat of force.
• Sexual violence is forcing or attempting to force a partner, acquaintance, or stranger to take part in a sex act, sexual touching, or a non-physical sexual event (e.g., sexting) when the victim does not or cannot consent.
  
• Psychological aggression is the use of verbal and non-verbal communication with the intent to harm another person mentally or emotionally and/or to exert control over another person.
  
• Stalking is a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention, and contact by a partner or ex-partner that causes fear or concern for one’s safety or the safety of someone close to the victim.
  

To do our part in raising awareness of TDV, Jana’s Campaign has developed a Teen Dating Violence Awareness Toolkit to help communities better understand, prevent, and respond to instances of TDV. The toolkit is free and can be found on the Jana’s Campaign website, www.janascampaign.org/awarenesstoolkits.html. Additionally, we will post facts and statistics about TDV on our social media accounts throughout February.

Although February is dedicated to TDV awareness, this issue does not contain itself to just one month. It continues to be a pervasive issue experienced by young people in every community. We all must do our part to educate ourselves and others about the realities of TDV and its widespread impact – not just today, but every day. 

​Please join us in our efforts to educate and raise awareness about the, sometimes hidden, social disease of gender and relationship violence. Learn more about TDV, our Awareness Toolkit, and Jana’s Campaign at www.janascampaign.org or by following us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you are interested in inviting Jana’s Campaign expert Prevention Educators to speak at your school or in your community, please contact us at janascampaign@gmail.com or call us at 785-656-0324.

(Hays, KS) - Early this month, Kaiti Blackburn, executive director of Jana’s Campaign, was selected as an inaugural honoree for her work in the nonprofit sector through the NextGen Under 30 program. This program’s mission is to identify and honor talented young adults and to encourage them to follow their lifetime family and career goals in Kansas. NextGen Under 30, a Kansas Department of Commerce program, recognizes and promotes the next generation of innovative, creative, and inspiring individuals who push the boundaries in various categories of endeavor. Out of over 600 nominations, 200 were selected across multiple sectors. Award winners were selected based on their participation and contribution to their communities.

Blackburn, a Dodge City, KS native, graduated from Fort Hays State University (FHSU) with a bachelor’s degree in leadership studies in 2015 and a master’s degree in professional studies with a concentration in organizational leadership in 2017. She began her career with Jana’s Campaign, a national education and violence prevention organization, in 2016 as an education and prevention specialist and, in 2019, was promoted to Executive Director.

Under Kaiti’s leadership, Jana’s Campaign’s reach through secondary education programming and higher education regional campus safety summits has grown to impact 43 states, over 630 middle and high schools, 538 colleges and universities, and more than 85,000 middle and high school students along with their faculty and staff. In addition to her work with Jana’s Campaign, Kaiti is a member of the Hays Young Professionals, served as an advisor for the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority at FHSU from 2017-2022, and has served as a mentor to FHSU students in the Voss Advanced Leadership Undergraduate Experience (VALUE) program through the Leadership Studies Department for the past three years. She has completed the extensive leadership pathway training through the Kansas Leadership Center of Wichita and training through Non-Profit Connect of Kansas City.

​To learn more about the NextGen Under 30 program, visit nextgenunder30ks.com.

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

The Jana's Campaign Winter 2021 newsletter is now available here. 

(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.