(Hays, KS) - This week welcomed October and National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). For many, you may stop reading right here, simply because you may think, “this issue does not pertain to me.” The truth is, it does pertain to you. Why? Because you are the friend, partner, brother, sister, mother, father, grandparent, co-worker, neighbor of someone who is a victim of domestic violence. One in four women and one in nine 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.

​Domestic violence is one of society’s largest problems and it hides in plain sight. DVAM is an opportunity to deepen our understanding of these issues and share resources. Jana’s Campaign is a national education and violence prevention organization with the single mission of reducing gender and relationship violence. This month, we are asking our community to learn 5 new things about domestic violence and share that information with those in your community.

“Domestic Violence is a serious issue in our country, state, and community. The only way we can create a culture that does not accept violence, is to become educated and then talk about it. We encourage you to get comfortable talking about the uncomfortable. You don’t have to be an expert to make a difference – you just have to be aware of the factors that can contribute to violence,” shares Kaiti Dinges, Executive Director of Jana’s Campaign.

​Jana’s Campaign has pledged to provide information on our social media accounts about the multiple forms domestic violence can take and the severity of the isse throughout the month of October. Please follow Jana’s Campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to learn more. 

Hays, KS – Jana’s Campaign is pleased to announce that the Hays, Kansas based national education & prevention organization has received a $10,000 grant from Human Investment, the foundation of The Jensen Project of Dallas, Texas. “We are so grateful for the support we receive from The Jensen Project. The mission of The Jensen Project and Jana’s Campaign are directly associated through primary prevention efforts. We are proud and excited to build a partnership with The Jensen Project to reduce gender and relationship violence,” stated Kaiti Dinges, Interim Executive Director, Jana’s Campaign.

Through the mission of Jana’s Campaign, we are dedicated to helping middle and high schools, and youth organizations reduce gender and relationship violence by promoting healthy relationship behaviors to ultimately create a culture of strong respect among adolescents. We utilize prevention programs, including curricular and co-curricular activities, to raise awareness of the underlying causes by highlighting the ‘red flags’ of dating relationships.

​The Jensen Project is a social awareness initiative committed to encouraging empathy in young children by providing them with the tools and resources needed to teach them compassion in various areas of their lives. Janet Jensen, founder and CEO of The Jensen Project and Human Investment, recognizes the urgency of reaching children as early as possible and ensuring the next generation of students are prepared to handle a changing culture. To learn more about The Jensen Project’s efforts, visit www.thejensenproject.com. 

In a 2016 national survey on Teen Relationships and Intimate Violence, 69% of 12 - 18 year old youth reported current or past relationship violence victimization, and 63% relationship violence perpetration. A recent study published by the American Medical Association confirms these statistics and furthers the conversation about Intimate Partner Homicides in Adolescents.

Overwhelmingly, violence in a teen relationship is caused by jealousy, or due to a broken or desired relationship. Teen dating violence includes behaviors such as psychological or emotional abuse, sexual violence, and physical violence.

Prevention education is necessary to end this crisis. Teaching preteens and teens what emotional violence looks like is where prevention can begin. Physical and sexual violence might occur, but teen dating violence is typically more subtle than that. It is a partner using put downs, verbal abuse and calling them names. It is feeling isolated from family and friends. It is constant phone calls and text messages checking in on location. Emotional abuse can be difficult to identify which is why prevention education must take place in schools and youth community organizations.

This past June, Huffington Post published an article focusing on the issue of teen dating violence and prevention education. This article is an important read for parents, teachers, counselors, health-care providers, and legislators. Every community needs to be educated on the severity of this issue and how we can all work together to prevent the violence before it starts. To read the article, visit this link.
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Jana's Campaign provides prevention education in elementary, middle, and high schools, and youth organizations to reduce gender and relationship violence by promoting healthy relationship behaviors to ultimately create a culture of strong respect among adolescents. Utilizing prevention programs, including curricular and co-curricular activities, we raise awareness of the underlying causes by highlighting the ‘red flags’ of dating relationships to ultimately stop violence before it starts. Contact us at 785-656-0324 or janascampaign@gmail.com to get started today.

The Jana's Campaign Summer newsletter is now available here. 

Jana's Campaign founder discusses the need for men to talk about gender-based violence and change the 'boys will be boys' mentality. See the full article at the link below. 

Scottbluff, NE – Calling all teachers, social workers, counselors, and advocates, Jana’s Campaign will host a FREE Safe Dates Curriculum Training on Monday, April 29th at the Scottsbluff ESU 13 building from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Jana’s Campaign is an education and prevention organization that works with middle and high schools, colleges and universities and community organizations to reduce all forms of gender and relationship violence.

Integration of the Safe Dates curriculum into classrooms is one component of Jana’s Campaign’s middle and high school programming. In national studies, Safe Dates has shown effective results in the movement against gender-based violence. Many Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado Family & Consumer Science teachers, counselors, and social workers have already adopted this curriculum.

For those who attend the training, Jana’s Campaign will provide one FREE copy of the Safe Dates curriculum ($245 value) per school with a signed memorandum of understanding to share survey data. Additionally, Jana’s Campaign provides on-going supplemental materials to be used with the curriculum and staff members are available to come directly to schools to provide programming that supports the classroom lessons.

​To register for this free training, please email your contact information to janascampaign@gmail.com. If you have any questions, please contact Kaiti Dinges at Jana’s Campaign at 785-656-0324 or through the email listed.

HAYS, Kansas, April 5, 2019 – Every April, victim advocacy and prevention organizations across Kansas, and the nation, recognize April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and an opportunity to bring awareness to the ongoing issue of sexual violence in our communities. This year, Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services, Jana’s Campaign, and the FHSU Women’s Leadership Project are collaborating to bring “What Were You Wearing” a sexual assault survivor art exhibit to the FHSU campus and the community at large for the second time in as many years. The exhibit features recreations of outfits that survivors of sexual assault were wearing at the time of their assault, based on personal testimony from the survivors themselves.

The survivor art exhibit was born out of an advocacy lens. The question, "What were you wearing?" is pervasive for most survivors. The project's intent is to place the work of bearing witness to this question's answer back onto the shoulders of the community. The exhibit asks viewers to understand that sexual assault is NEVER about the clothing the survivor wore - and the act of shedding those clothes is never enough to bring peace or comfort to survivors. The violence is not simply woven into the fabric of the material, it is a part of the survivor's new narrative.

The exhibit requires all of us to evaluate what caused us, as individuals and as a society, to ask victims of sexual assault, "What were you wearing?" in the first place. To ask the question, "What were you wearing?" costs the questioner nothing; however, the survivor pays dearly in not only their answer; but also in the burden of self-blame.

"Everyone in our community needs to see this exhibit and understand the survivor is never at fault. The exhibit is also personal; attendees can see victims as their friends, family, neighbors, even themselves, and realize sexual assault can happen to anyone." Kim Cebula, Executive Director of Jana’s Campaign.

"Research shows that one in five women will experience sexual violence in their lifetime; and in eight out of ten cases, the rapist already knew their victim. As you read the stories in this powerful exhibit, you'll see that statistic rings true. Demand for sexual assault services at Options has increased 655% in the last three years alone. This isn’t a problem in other comminutes – it’s a problem right in our own backyard," said Jennifer Hecker, Executive Director of Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services.

The "What Were Your Wearing" exhibit will be open April 15-18 from 10am to 4pm in the south end of Forsyth Library on the Fort Hays State University campus. The exhibit will also be featured in the Spring Art Walk in Hays on April 26th from 6pm – 9pm at Styles Dance Centre at 1501 Main St.

Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services, Inc. is a non-profit agency dedicated to providing direct assistance to victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and stalking through individual support. Options provides services to 18 counties in Northwest Kansas; services are always voluntary and provided free of charge, with complete confidentiality.

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 educational programs that prevent domestic and dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking.

​If you or someone you know needs help because of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, call Options free Helpline at 800-794-4624 for help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Dear Editor,

Let’s be honest, no one really wants to talk about sex, let alone sexual assault, but if we want to end it – we have to talk about it! It’s not easy, but if we can get past being uncomfortable for a minute, these are important conversations for us to have as communities, as educators, as parents, as friends.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness month and sexual violence affects millions of Americans. According to RAINN, every 92 seconds an American is assaulted (rainn.org). The Kansas Bureau of Investigation reports that in 2017 one rape occurred every seven hours and six minutes in Kansas (Domestic Violence, Stalking and Sexual Assault in Kansas, KBI 2017).

The vast majority, 99% of perpetrators will never go to jail or prison for their acts of violence. Sexual violence also has long term effects on victims. Most victims experience post-traumatic stress disorder following the rape. There are significantly higher rates of anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts for victims – 13% of women who are raped attempt suicide. As well as increased rates of substance abuse, problems at work or school, and feelings of isolation and distrust (rainn.org).

Jana’s Campaign provides prevention education programs to reduce gender and relationship violence in middle and high schools, at colleges and universities and throughout the community. We are thankful for everyone who believes in the #PowerofPrevention and supports our work. Together, we have a role in building safe, healthy relationships and communities. When we start having conversations about these difficult issues, we remove the barriers for victims, teach and encourage healthy, consensual relationships and ultimately prevent the violence from happening.

It’s time … to talk about it!

Sincerely,
Kim Cebula, Executive Director
​Jana’s Campaign, Inc.