Using Your Voice

In 2010, MTV’s Teen Mom star Amber Portwood was seen punching her on-and-off boyfriend Gary Shirley in the face. During one episode, Amber kicked Gary in the back as he walked down a flight of stairs. Recently Amber was arrested for two felony accounts of domestic battery. She could have faced a $10,000 fine if she had been convicted. 

This incident has shed a new light onto dating violence. When most people consider domestic violence they think of a boyfriend, or husband, throwing their girlfriend, or wife, into a wall, punching or kicking her. Rarely do people consider it when the roles are reversed. This is a respect issue to be considered during February which is Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness Month. Respect needs to flow both ways through a relationship and guys need to be taught the signs of dating violence. Things like possessiveness, constant texting and calling as well as threats can come from girls as well.

As the Community Liaison for the PAVE (Prevent Assault and Violence Education) program of Mental Health America, I feel that it is my duty to relay our messages to the public. There is no way to fix a problem unless you have supporters and people that believe in it. PAVE has a large following of dedicated students, however the community should be aware of what we are doing. I hope to help circulate the anti violence messages through all central Ohio communities and help to make the area a better place to live and learn.

Now that I have (hopefully) made you think about violence in our community, relationships, or teens, I have used MY voice for one more thing. Educating you. So my question becomes, what will you do with this message? How can you share the importance of true respect? 1 in 4 teens are victims of dating violence. We could use your help to change that statistic.

--Gabrielle Scopel

PAVE Community Liaison 

& senior at Licking Heights High School

The Meeting I Didn't Want to Go To

Last night I had a meeting in Columbus to represent PAVE or Prevent Assault & Violence Education. The meeting was at the Columbus Public Library MLK branch on Long Street. It took a while to find it and it was in a part of town with boarded-up homes and businesses.

It was after a long day at work, a long drive, and a rushed lunch. The last thing I wanted to do was attend a meeting out of town, at night and where the library’s slow internet connection made the presentation drag on. I had even taken our PAVE President along to keep me company and I felt that it was important for her to hear about the changes being made in the Strategies Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) Awards program.

Our group has been part of SAVE off and on since its inception in 1994. We have an amazing group of teens in our program this year and they still keep coming! Over 50 high school students from all over Licking  County –from Heath, Newark, Utica, Licking Valley, Licking Heights,  Johnstown, Granville Christian Academy and more! –have signed up to be part of PAVE. And they were so interested and dedicated to participating in SAVE this year that I felt obligated to attend and see if we would be able to continue with the program that culminates with limo rides and on-stage performances in April 2011. If we were going to do it, this meeting was mandatory.

I knew that there were changes coming to the SAVE program this year. Tracy Thornton who is the Awards Advisor with the SAVE program had told me that already. Normally our teens would have to spend a couple days in Columbus with mandatory conflict resolution and media literacy training, a Peace Camp and then auditions. This year however, we need to spend about 9 hours, or 1 session a week, with SAVE and Tracy could not travel to Licking County to provide those trainings. Once we worked out a plan for me to shadow her, I could teach our teens the new SAVE curriculum. There would be different levels of accomplishment that our group could achieve and that seemed very reasonable.

Someone we had been working with during the past year joined the meeting late. DingDing Ma from Asian American Community Services (AACS) was there and she works with their Healthy Asian Youth (HAY) program. We had been on their committee to prepare for the GenerAsian Next event held at OSU this past August.. That alone made the trip worthwhile. Tawnee, the PAVE President,  and I both got hugs from her, along with the sad news of an AACS staff resignation. I told her that I would miss seeing that person at regional events, but hoped that meant I would see DingDing more often and I offered to help her in any way she needed me or PAVE. She immediately said that she knew that and that she would love to keep working with us. Not just me, but the teens in our program, too! We had already shown them so much!

During the meeting, I had the chance to share PAVE and SAVE’s history together with everyone who was there. It was great to see so many smiling faces when I talked about how empowering the work was for our group and the fact that one student had been with us since he was a high school freshman, had done the SAVE Awards, and the video of that performance was now a teaching tool that he uses as one of our contract staff in the high school classrooms. It was such a win-win-win situation!

Many other representatives who were there had never been involved with SAVE or ever heard of PAVE. It was so rewarding to leave that meeting – the one I thought I didn’t want to go to – with those thoughts of all the new youth who will be impacted by participating in this year’s SAVE. I could picture our teens enjoying their limo ride as they exit and are greeted by “hundreds of adoring fans” yelling their names while flash bulbs are popping! Tawnee talked about the possibilities that PAVE could do for our performance this year and what we had done in the past…and everything that we had to live up to after all those comments and stories.

So now it begins…working with the teens to decide yet again how to spread their messages of anti-violence at SAVE, teaching them more about conflict resolution and media literacy, raising awareness about so many issues that touch them, and giving them some alternatives and solutions that they can really use and live with. That’s what PAVE is about. That’s why so many students are involved this year – they heard us asking: do you want to help? Their answer was a resounding “YES!”

--Jan GreenRiver

Director of Prevention 

PAVE: Advocating for Others, Healing the Self

At MHALC, we are all about education, prevention and advocacy. But we are also about relationships and fostering ways to improve them all the time. One of the impactful programs that we offer is the Prevent Assault & Violence Education (PAVE) program that utilizes high school student volunteers who go into the middle schools to tech about bullying, media literacy, physical abuse and sexual assault.

The students who do this might know what they are talking about in far too personal ways. Many of the students who teach about these issues have already experienced some of them. So not only do the students reach younger children about very sensitive topics, but they also learn healthier ways of coping themselves and create their own PAVE family setting. PAVE members are empowered by learning about the underlying reasons that may cause some of these negative behaviors. Then they are able to gain asset building skills to help them maneuver this portion of their life and be better prepared for what their future may hold.

Two PAVE members have shared parts of their stories with our group. In this posting are the words they want everyone to hear. Not only do they want other teens to know how PAVE has helped them, but they want schools, educators, parents, peers, family and other students just like them to know how PAVE can change a life. They are cared for, utilized, empowered, strengthened, and valued as members of this afterschool family. What may be most important about their vital membership with the group is that they are not judged, they are free to be themselves, they are welcome to bring friends – or not. They are accepted just where and how they are. Isn’t that really what we all want?

PAVE was a life changing experience for me. I was having a lot of family problems & was always depressed. One day I was talking to my friend Dallas about my problems so he brought me to PAVE. I have learned many ways to deal with my problems. Being in PAVE has turned my life around. Everyone involved in PAVE is like family to me. I can trust everyone and openly talk about my problems and not worry about being judged. PAVE really helps when you have problems or even if you just want to help people.

- Miranda Nixon

This is my second year at P.A.V.E. and I am glad to be a part of this group. I feel like I have a family here. Our first day we come together as strangers, and at the end of the day we leave as friends. 

            Recently, I had a personal experience with sexual assault - last month. I felt like there was no one I could talk to. I came to P.A.V.E and we had 'circle time'. That is where we sit in a circle and each person gets the chance to say what they are thinking, whether it was on the topic we discussed that day, or a personal issue that is weighing on your mind. When it got to me, I started to shake, and my voice was choppy. I told my story to everyone that was there. I felt very relieved that I was able to talk about it. The part that touched me most was what happened afterword. I was sitting in my seat, shaking and crying...and Miranda comes running to me, hugs me and says, "I love you Caley!"

            P.A.V.E is a great place to release your feelings. You can speak your mind and not worry about being judged, it is a safe place. Everyone there has touched me in some way. I will never forget the whole experience. I hope to come back after I graduate in the spring. P.A.V.E. Rocks!!

Caley

~Senior at Utica

--Jan GreenRiver
Director of Prevention

National Crime Victims Rights Week Events

Here are some photos taken during last week's conference and the Peacemakers Showcase.

MHA Marks National Crime Victims Rights Week

“Fairness. Dignity. Respect.” is the theme of this week's National Crime Victims Rights Week Conference offered by Mental Health America of Licking County.

Speakers include: internationally known speaker on human trafficking: Theresa Flores, and author of The Sacred Bath. Stephanie Smith Bowman from the Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio will share information on victims’ with disabilities.

Melis Leonard, former MHA Director of Prevention, will talk about the connections between victimization and trauma and varied human responses. Community members of a Victim Impact Panel will share their experiences & answer questions regarding the victimization. Members will include families of Pamela Annarino and Tyler Gargus.

Representatives of the MHA Prevent Violence and Assault Education (PAVE) Teen Panel will speak on the experiences of youth crime victims.

The conference is free and open to the public with registration. Complimentary lunch is being provided by Bake-N-Brew.

Saturday, April 24, 2010, will be the “Peacemaker’s Showcase” featuring Prevent Assault and Violence Education (PAVE) a program of Mental Health America. There will be food, fun, music, guest speakers, Awards, a Candlelight Vigil, and a March for Peace.

Events start at 4 p.m., with a “Take Back the Night Rally” at 7 p.m. The Licking Co. Clothesline Project will be on display.

For more information about these events or to register, please call (740)522-2277 or email to prevention@mhalc.org

Phone Support

I just got off the phone with M. who said she will be in 7th grade in Licking Heights this fall. She told me that PAVE was in her school last year and she said that it really made a difference with the bullying and things were better since we were there. She just wanted to say thank you. (Several times.) I asked her if she wanted to have a club next year and she said that she and her friends were thinking about it. I told her we would love to work with her and how great her school was.

I just thought you might enjoy hearing about her call. We don’t get too many of those calls. It’s nice to know that we made a positive impact.

--Jan GreenRiver
Director of Prevention & Programs

Saved by Zero

Hey! It’s that time of year again, Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month. It’s a shame that I have to keep reminding people about these issues, but they just won’t go away. It seems that no matter how many schools we are in or how many thousands of lives we touch, we can’t dispose of child abuse &/or sexual abuse.

Licking County has a relatively high rate of child abuse. A very large concentration of registered sex offenders appear as Licking County residents. Most victims of sexual assault, 90%, know their attacker. Fortunately, Mental Health America has two programs specifically designed to help reduce this violence. For preschools and elementary schools we offer the Child Abuse Prevention Program (CAPP). Once students reach middle school we offer the Prevent Assault & Violence Education (PAVE) program. Not only is this available to middle schools, but it offers programming for high schools, community groups and colleges. Afterschool clubs are offered to the schools as well, to talk about issues that may be directly related to their community.

And when it comes to community, we mean all of Licking County. This weekend, there is a free community event on Saturday. This is the 5th Annual Peacemakers’ Showcase & it’s open to everyone. From 2-5 p.m., students from all over will meet at Premier Martial Arts at 104 E Main Street. They will share messages of anti-violence in drama (Licking Heights Central Middle School 8th grade VIP Club performing Bang Bang You’re Dead by William Mastrosimone), poetry, song, video, & static displays. There are raffles to help raise money for the program, including a great gift bag from Mariska Hargitay of television’s Law & Order: SVU (including a dvd set of its fifth season). While we are all about empowering others, we are also about staying safe. Premier will supply free self-defense classes to children (2:00-5:00), teens age 13-18 (3:00-4:00) & women over 18 (4:00-5:00) during the afternoon.

To end the celebration, the group will transition to the gazebo on the Courthouse Square for a Take Back the Night Rally after 5:00. The Licking County Clothesline Project will be on display and the community is invited to add shirts to the line. This project honors those who have endured sexual assault or gender violence. Speakers will share their stories & special guest Theresa Flores will speak at 6:00 to educate those in attendance about sexual trafficking. Flores endured two years as a sex slave while in high school in the Detroit area. Her family moved away her senior year, saving her from the gang that controlled her life. Copies of her book, The Sacred Bath, will be on sale. Following her speech, the event will conclude with a candlelight march around the courthouse.

Please don’t think that you or your family is immune from these issues. Theresa came from a two parent, affluent home, was attractive, involved in church and school. Many children or teens in our community fit that description, too. Yet she was a victim. How many of our children are victims? No matter what that number is, we want it to become 0.

Please join us Saturday as we celebrate the many young people who are doing great things in our schools and communities. Maybe even thank them for speaking out against violence of all kinds. Most importantly, share our message with your children. I have.

-- Jan GreenRiver
Dir. of Programs & Prevention

I Am Very Excited

My name is Ashley Shaw, and I am the new PAVE coordinator for Mental Health America of Licking County. I am very excited to be working in this agency and to have to have the position as coordinator.

Speaking of PAVE, it is up and running for the 2008-2009 school year and I am learning a lot. We (Jan and I) have already been in two schools and we have another one this week. I am still new at the curriculum, so I am doing a lot of learning myself. PAVE orientation was a couple weeks ago, and I think it went very well. There were a handful of new teens from area high schools whom I am excited to get to know. In addition to working with teens, we were excited to work with kids at Kid’s 1st Fest in Heath selling pop and lollipops during the treacherous wind storm that came through Ohio.

I am also excited to announce that we have a guest speaker coming in on 9/29, Teresa Flores, to speak about her personal experience being trafficked as a teen. I cannot wait to hear her speak, I think that she has a wonderful story to share, and that anyone willing to listen will benefit from it. Speaking of Teresa Flores, I recently finished the book she wrote about her experiences being trafficked as a human sex slave for two years, and I could not believe what I read. To think that trafficking is such a problem in the United States upsets me. Trafficking is a topic that is never talked about as being a problem in the United States, although it is a major one. I think it is a topic that more people need to be aware of, instead of thinking it is nonexistent. Because it seems to me that once a people become aware of a problem more can be done about it, instead of people simply not knowing.

Anyways, back to work related things. I have a lot of good volunteers coming from the area colleges (OSU-N and Denison) to train to become Respect Educators. I am really excited about the enthusiasm and determination that they are going to bring to the program. This year is going to be a great year for PAVE, and will keep you all updated!

Ashley Shaw

PAVE Coordinator

We Had a Mental Breakdown!

It was a beautiful day for a parade. The sun was out and there was a nice breeze. It was warm, but it wasn't August warm.

Volunteers from MHA, along with representatives from about 90 other organizations, had gathered in the field behind the newly-remodeled Wilson school for the Jaycees Community Parade for the United Way.

Through the generosity of the Kiwanis Club of Granville, MHA had an actual float to decorate. I don't speak fluent parade so I will probably use the wrong terminology, but this thing had gold fringe and red, white & blue tufted siding on the walls that lined the wagon that is used for hayrides in the off-season. At the back of the float was a wall that was ideally suited for the MHA banner.

MHA Board member, Dave Douglas had already had a full day by the time he arrived to pull the float for the parade. He began the morning in Granville by helping to assemble the float. He then delivered the float to the Wilson school staging area and then went home for a wash and brush-up and to give his vehicle a quick spruce-up. Like so many others, Mr. Douglas had been without power for most of the previous week.

To pull the float, Mr. Douglas brought his wife Pat's Jeep. It was not one of those station wagon style SUVs, but more like its famous military forebearer with a removeable soft top and sides. For being 9 years old, the Jeep was in immaculate shape and drew the attention of fellow enthusiast, Jude Hoover, who was also participating in the parade with his Jeep.

Throughout the morning, the field filled up with the vehicles and floats for the parade. What had been virtually empty at 10:00 am was quite crowded by noon and appeared to be overflowing by the time they stepped off at 2:00 pm.

As the field filled up, so too did the MHA float. In addition to staff members and youth participants in our YES and PAVE programs, Ms. Judi Watts, a member of the Board of Trustees, showed up to ride in the parade.

Responsible for keeping the parade organized were the marshals. They spent most of the morning zipping across the Wilson field in ATVs and talking into their chirping squirrel phones. Each new parade participant was assigned to a lettered column and, when the time came, that would dictate their place in the parade.

MHA was assigned to column D. We were to follow Newark City Council member Shirley Stare and be followed by Newark City Council member Rick Henderson.

At the appointed hour, the marshals gave the signal and, led by a color guard of police and military, the parade stepped off for its trip down Church St. to the Courthouse Square.

Mr. Douglas elected to take advantage of the Jeep's 4-wheel drive in order to pull the float into the street. It went smoothly into gear and when he reached the street, he went to shift out of 4-wheel drive and that's when it happened.

Mr. Douglas was able to shift out of 4-wheel, but because a pin dropped out of some place in the transmission linkage, he was unable to shift into anything else. So the float was in the street, but it couldn't go anywhere. With the rest of the parade passing us by, we literally had a mental breakdown.

Meanwhile, down on the Square, the first elements of the parade had reached Third St. and made the turn south toward the Square. There were cheerleaders and flag corps, politicians and candidates, local businesses and local United Way agencies. And then there was Ms. Stare, and then there was Mr. Henderson, and then there was the rest of the parade. And then there was a little panic.

A photographer had been assigned to capture the MHA float as it passed in front of Newark's courthouse. She knew when to expect the float and when she didn't see it, was certain that she must have missed it. How could they have passed her by without her noticing?

Fortunately, Mr. Douglas was able to reach his wife by phone and she brought their pick-up truck in to pull the float. The changeover was made and the MHA float, led by Paddy Kutz under her golf-size blue and white MHA umbrella, was the last unit in the parade.

We are very lucky to have been able to participate in the parade and more fortunate that we have the help of dedicated staff and volunteers to make these opportunities happen. Now that we know what to expect, we look forward to next year when we will finish closer to the front of the line.

Graham Campbell

Associate Director

Mental Health America of Licking County