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By: Katie Foley  February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, which raises awareness and sparks conversations when it comes to abuse in teen and early twenties relationships. While many may not think abuse happens to younger generations, we want you to know that dating violence is more common than one would think. One in three teens in the U.S. will experience physical, sexual or emotional abuse by someone they are in a relationship with before they hit the status of adulthood. We help educate the community on dating violence and encourage victims to seek help.
According to the Center for Disease Control, dating violence can have a negative effect on the victim’s life spanning many years past the traumatic events. Teens thru early adulthood who are victims are more likely to experience symptoms including: depression, anxiety, drug-use, and alcohol abuse. To support those statistics, the NCADV reported that half of youth who have been victims of both dating violence and rape attempt suicide compared to 12.5% of non-abused girls and 5.4% non-abused boys. With over 50% of teens knowing someone who has suffered from physical, sexual, or verbal abuse in a dating relationship, it is our job to start having those tough conversations, as well as keep an eye out for signs that we’ve talked about in past blog posts. Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month has encouraged us to take action, and you should too. Whether in your community or household, below are a few ideas:
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By: The Beacon of Hope Team We want to say thanks to our Speedway PD partners for a really great meeting this week. The energy and excitement felt by both our teams was inspiring. The Chief and our CEO agreed on a renewal partnership through 2020. Speedway Police Department Captain Jason Dierdorff and Sergeant Mirantha Hockemeyer and Beacon of Hope Crisis Center CEO Sandra Ziebold and Director of Victim Advocacy Tiffany Wilson met and reviewed victim services data and engaged in lots of victim services focused conversation. We brought a total of 45 crisis bundles for adults and children that the officers will have on hand for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault crimes. In a moment of fleeing to be safe victims often leave with nothing. These crisis bundles will help meet immediate needs in the community of Speedway. "We want the Speedway community to know we share a passion for helping victims of crime. Beacon of Hope Crisis Center and Speedway PD work together to ensure services are available to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault crimes. Intervening early saves lives. Reach out if another is asserting power and control over you and you are afraid. We can help you." - Sandra K. Ziebold, CEO Beacon of Hope Crisis Center  Beacon of Hope Crisis Center and Speedway Police Department partnership meeting and crisis bundle delivery (L to R) Director of Victim Advocacy Tiffany Wilson, Sergeant Rodney Ferguson, Detective Joe Harmon, Sergeant Mirantha Hockemeyer and Officer Mike Marsteller
 By: Savannah Tipton  February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month – a time dedicated to efforts that support teens and young adults as they navigate unhealthy relationships. While dating abuse may look different in each relationship, researchers have found early warning signs that everyone should be aware of (listed below). Help us educate the community and raise awareness of dating violence by making a donation today. Education is key to preventing future dating violence among teens and young adults in our community. Warning Signs of Teen Dating Violence*
*www.ncdsv.org/images/WarningSignsofTeenDatingViolence.pdf By: Lydia Wood, Victim Advocate and Trauma Therapy Dog Handler It was not my intent upon adopting Echo that he become a therapy dog, but as I grew to know him more it felt like something he needed to do. The healing power of dogs, I think, has many levels. The foundation being that dogs just are. They’re with you in the moment, no matter how uncomfortable. You don’t have to question their motives or if they really love you. You don’t have to wonder if what they’re doing is genuine or not. They don’t get caught up in their own thoughts, opinions, or judgements. They’re pure, and with the struggle of waking up and living in a world with people who may not be exactly how they seem, it’s refreshing to be around a dog who just is.
A therapy dog’s job is to provide comfort where they go. Their very presence is enough to help most people feel more relaxed and taken care of. Echo, however, adds a bit of a deeper level than many therapy dogs I’ve encountered. Soon after I adopted Echo, I realized his whining didn’t coincide with situations that made him anxious, but with when the people around him felt bad. And not only did he mirror one’s emotions, he sought to comfort the people whose energy he was feeding off of. It was with this realization that I decided to name him “Echo,” on account of him echoing the energy of the people around him. Having trained dogs for several years, I knew the simple fact that he reacted to changes in emotions wasn’t completely uncommon. What stuck out to me about Echo was that he knew how you felt, felt it with you, and tried to make you feel better. He didn’t just soak up your emotions, he empathized with them. That caring, and empathy isn’t something that can be trained into a dog. As a victim is navigating the heart breaking and traumatic dynamic of an abusive relationship, or dealing with the aftermath of sexual assault, Echo’s tenderness and genuine presence can add a peace and clarity of mind that may have been otherwise impossible in the complicated world of human interaction. He’ll be there with the victims we advocate for, through the good and the bad, and hopes for nothing in return. NEWS RELEASE  Beacon of Hope Crisis Center Adds A Trauma Therapy Dog And Receives Large Donation From Bob’s Discount Furniture
Exciting start to 2018 with additions of comfort for victims of crime receiving services from Beacon of Hope (INDIANAPOLIS, IN—January 25, 2018)—This brand new exciting year of 2018 kicks off for Beacon of Hope Crisis Center (BOHCC) with new additions to the team which includes Echo and his handler Lydia. Comfort abounds to assist with healing at this local agency serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault here in Central Indiana. Lydia and Echo joined the team on January 1st, Lydia is a Victim Advocate and Echo’s Trauma Therapy Dog Handler. She is getting her masters in psychology and has experience training service dogs for victims suffering from post-traumatic stress. “We are thrilled to add Echo, a trauma therapy dog, and his handler Lydia to our team and touched by the generosity of our corporate partners, Bob’s Discount Furniture. Thanks to their large donation we now have waiting, counseling and meeting room furniture to make those we are serving comfortable while dealing with their traumatic struggles. And adding Echo to our team helps victims dealing with the traumatic dynamics of an abusive relationship or the aftermath of sexual assault.” said Sandra Ziebold, CEO / Executive Director at Beacon of Hope Crisis Center. "One of our main goals as a company is to give back to the community, so we are honored to provide new furniture for the Beacon of Hope Crisis Center to ensure they are well equipped to serve their growing number of clients," said Cathy Poulin, Director of Outreach and Public Relations at Bob's Discount Furniture. Echo knows how you feel, feels it with you, and tries to make you feel better. He doesn’t just soak up your emotions, he empathizes with them. This caring and empathy isn’t something that can be trained into a dog, but this innate gift is what makes Echo an exceptional trauma therapy dog. Echo’s tenderness and genuine presence adds a peace and clarity of mind. He helps the victims we advocate for, through the good and the bad, and hopes for nothing in return. BOHCC served 904 victims of domestic violence and sexual assault this past year, the agencies 2017 annual report is available on their website. The complexity of cases they are managing and the increase in demand for their services continues to grow. BOHCC advocacy services are desperately needed 24/7. BOHCC serves victims in Central Indiana and has advocacy partnerships with local police departments serving victims of crime. In 2018 BOHCC hopes to increase major donor support to help them be able to operate 24/7 and add language services. You can help, learn more and donate now at beaconofhopeindy.org. About Bob’s Discount Furniture Bob’s Discount Furniture provides quality furniture at every day low prices. With furniture stores located across the United States, the Manchester, Connecticut based company has become the 12th-largest U.S. furniture chain. Bob’s is committed to the communities they serve through a variety of charitable giving efforts. Bob’s Discount Furniture Charitable Foundation provides organizations and individuals with over $2.75 million in donations yearly. For more information on Bob's charitable programs, follow Bob’s on Twitter @MyBobs and on our LinkedIn Company Page, and subscribe to Bob’s on YouTube. About Beacon of Hope Crisis Center 501(c)3 Beacon of Hope Crisis Center a Christ-centered organization empowering victims of domestic violence and sexual assault to become self-sufficient by providing safety, support and education. Since 2009 Beacon of Hope, through its Crisis Intervention, Victim Advocacy, Counseling, "Teen Talk" Outreach and Education, Criminal Justice, Economic Sustainability and Foster Pet Programs has offered victims of domestic violence assistance in overcoming barriers that hold them in abusive situations. Beacon of Hope is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization located in Indianapolis, Indiana. More information about Beacon of Hope can be found at beaconofhopeindy.org. BOHCC Blog: beaconofhopeindy.org/blog Twitter: @bohindyorg Facebook: @Beaconofhopeindy Instagram: @beacon.of.hope.indy January 25, 2018 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT Sandra K. Ziebold, CEO / Executive Director Beacon of Hope Crisis Center 317 731 6131 By: Merideth Bush  I shouldn’t have been so surprised.
After all, I wasn’t new to the field of human trafficking. In graduate school, I conducted presentations on human trafficking on a regular basis, researching cases around the world- including the United States. I interned with the Indiana Office of the Attorney General, where I traveled around the state conducting Human Trafficking 101 training's for service providers, so they could recognize the warning signs. Everywhere I went I cautioned people, “This crime isn’t just an international problem, it happens everywhere- right in our backyards!” So, you would think I would have been prepared. But even I was blind-sided when news broke in October 2016 of a sex trafficking bust in MY backyard.* IMPD had apprehended sex traffickers in my hometown, on a street I knew well just minutes away from my childhood home. Suddenly, human trafficking wasn’t just a research field anymore. It was personal. Whether they are knowledgeable about human trafficking or not, many Hoosiers still have the mindset I had before that story broke. They may hear about human trafficking in the news on occasion, but they still consider it to be a problem in someone else’s neighborhood. It’s not something that happens in their hometown. It’s not something that they can help prevent. Today, on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, #WeWearBlueBecause we want to challenge that perception. #WeWearBlueBecause as a domestic violence and sexual assault crisis center, we recognize that sex trafficking is one of the most heinous forms of sexual assault that Indiana faces, affecting Hoosiers as young as seven years old. #WeWearBlueBecause we are here to do something about it. Beacon of Hope is dedicated to organizing prevention efforts and providing exceptional advocacy to victims of all sexual assault, including sex trafficking. January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, so for the next few weeks we will conduct a blog series outlining what human trafficking is, what it looks like in Indiana, and how Beacon of Hope is involved in this fight. Be sure to check back next week for our second blog in the series, where you will learn what human trafficking is, what it looks like in Indiana, and what you can do about it! By The Beacon of Hope Team  The Beacon Of Hope Team Would Like To Wish Everyone A Safe And Happy New Year! By: Katie Foley  If you’ve noticed that someone you love has been abused or is currently facing abuse from their partner, don’t be alarmed if they come to you and ask for help. While it may be extremely overwhelming to figure out what to do, we’ve created a list of things to keep in mind if this happens.
Be Smart – Show your support by listening and respecting the survivor’s needs. Be smart and remember that this is a dangerous time and your friend may be feeling scared and alone. Assist them by connecting them to community resources or a local victim advocate. Talk More – The only person that can truly tell you what’s going on and how they feel is THAT person. Helping a survivor is crucial for their recovery, but you need to have effective communication to best understand their needs emotionally, physically, and mentally. Sometimes asking, “What can I do?” is more than enough. Safety First - Having a safety plan is crucial in situations involving domestic violence. After talking with a loved one or friend affected by abuse, take the next step by creating a safety plan with the help of a victim advocate. Safety planning includes tips and strategies to keep the victim and those they love safe while preparing for the worst-case scenario. Take Care – Remember, through helping others, that you need boundaries too. Helping a friend affected by domestic violence can be emotionally and mentally draining. While you want to help, you will also be taking on a lot of heartbreak, as you hear what has been happening behind scenes. Make sure you’re practicing self-care by resting, eating, and staying alert – as you need to be in the best shape for yourself and loved one. If you know of someone experiencing domestic violence and you want to help but don’t know how or if you’ve already helped, but want to give him or her more resources – call our crisis hotline Monday through Friday 8:30am - 4:30 pm at (317) 731-6140. By: Katie Foley  Victim advocates at Beacon of Hope Crisis Center understand that asking for help can be difficult. Even the smallest things like needing a few extra dollars to buy food or a ride to an appointment can bring anxiety and guilt. Despite these challenges we encourage you to reach out and ask for help.
While asking for help in situations such as sexual assault and/or domestic violence can be scary, victim advocates can help you find the resources and assistance you need to get safe, stay safe and ultimately truly begin to feel safe. Domestic violence and sexual assault can happen to anyone – young or old, rich or poor, and from any ethnic or religious background. You may be experiencing different forms of abuse and we, at Beacon of Hope, want to encourage you to take that first step and call. We know that it can be difficult to talk about your situation, especially if you’re afraid, but we want to help. We offer a Crisis Call Center for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault seeking help from current and past traumas. Our advocates will listen, assist with safety planning, let you know what all is available for you to break free, and give you the help that you need. By taking the step and making that phone call today, you can receive counseling, referrals to shelters and housing assistance, court advocacy, and life training skills to get back on your feet. We’re here for you and if needing to talk, call our Crisis Call Line Monday-Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm at: (317) 731-6140. By Savannah Tipton  Everyone can take part in raising domestic violence awareness. Some efforts may take a large time commitment while others can be done in seconds. Take a second to show your support by sharing or retweeting information and resources. The simple act of clicking a button to share content may have a greater impact than you expect. That information could help someone identify domestic violence in their own life, with a friend, or with a family member. Posting about resources in your community may connect a victim to a service provider that can support them. Start sharing with a retweet.
Show your support for victims of domestic violence by finding the donation option that best fits you. Beacon of Hope has created a variety of ways for you to support victims. Become a member to make monthly donations or sign up for AmazonSmile and amazon will make a donation at NO COST to you. We also have sponsors, coin-up, and Kroger Community Rewards. To learn more, visit the donate tab on our website. Take an active role in standing against domestic violence and sexual assault by volunteering with Beacon of Hope Crisis Center. Beacon of Hope creates individualized roles for interns and volunteers. We have a team of interns and volunteers that assist with social media, grant writing, event planning, our crisis call line, and our foster pet program. Apply today. Your voice counts. |
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