Newsroom http://www.tessacs.org/newsroom All news and related items of the TESSA division in Colorado Springs, Colorado. TESSA Colorodo Springs Newsroom PATRIOT LEARNING CENTER TEENS SPEAK OUT AGAINST TEEN DATING VIOLENCEby Tressie Knowlton “Even though our school is small… what we’re doing is big,” Susie McPherson told a room full of Patriot Learning Center (PLC) students Monday morning.  McPherson, casually known as “Ms. Mac” to PLC students, is a History teacher at the alternative school located in Falcon.  PLC has only been around for two years, but the school is one of the state’s leaders in recognizing National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week.  TESSA and the students at PLC have a common goal: promoting safety and ending teen dating violence in our community.  The students leading the awareness efforts understand that they are the future of our country, and that it is up to them to make it better for everyone.   Beginning in 2006, the first week of February marks a nationwide initiative to increase public awareness regarding the prevalence of Teen Dating Violence, a social problem proven to be a significant obstacle that many teens in our country face today.  A 2007 survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control found that 9.9% of high school age students report being hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend.  Emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse in teen relationships soars as high as one in every three teens, and 40% of teens report knowing someone in an abusive dating relationship.   “It’s as common as drugs,” commented one PLC student during a presentation and discussion on Teen Dating Violence with Julie Sage, one of TESSA’s teen dating violence experts.  Sage talked to the students about the Teen Crisis Line TESSA offers that provides teens with 24/7 confidential access to counselors and dating violence experts.  The presentation included several video testimonies from real teen victims and abusers, and an open discussion about the issues surrounding dating violence.  “You should be really proud of yourselves,” Sage told the students.  “You are among the first groups in the state of Colorado to recognize Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week.”    Patriot Learning Center already participates in a Safe Date program, where students learn about healthy relationships and decisions.  So, when the Student Council heard about Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week, they decided to host a “Spirit Week” at PLC.  McPherson invited Julie Sage to kick off the week’s events by addressing the tough issues that surround teen dating violence.  The group discussed how violence starts, how it progresses, what it feels like to the victim and the abuser, how to recognize abuse, and how to prevent dating violence.  PLC students did not hold back from talking about the sometimes uncomfortable topic.  In spite of the occasional bouts of nervous laughter, the teens faced the issue head-on.   “[Abuse] destroys you.  [Victims] become a shell of their former self,” said PLC senior Justin White.  “You feel like you can change [abusers], but you really can’t at all,” added another student.  “You feel inferior and trapped, and you start believing what they tell you.” Each day during Spirit Week, the students are encouraged to dress up following a different theme, and the Student Council has scheduled several activities.  Students created posters to line the hallways, and made ribbons for students and teachers to wear marking the importance of recognizing and preventing dating violence. “Then national color for Teen Dating Violence is purple, so we made purple ribbons we gave to many of the other high schools in the area,” told McPherson. “But, we wanted to be different and stand out at PLC, so our ribbons are lime green!” she laughed.   The students are handing out cards displaying catchy phrases like “If you’re getting smacked, your relationship is whack” and “Don’t stay silent if your Boo is violent”.  At the end of the week, students can cash in the cards they’ve collected throughout the week for extra credit, candy bars, and other rewards.  PLC is also hosting a Poetry Contest encouraging students to write about teen dating violence. “This week is about letting the kids know they are not alone.  We want to teach them what to do and how to do it,” said McPherson.  “I’m just grateful for the wonderful support of our administration for giving the kids the chance to do this.”  Our kids come here with challenges and different family situations, so these kinds of programs are important,” told PLC Principal Jay Hahn.  “It’s nice for our kids to get to be the community leaders in some things.” The students know the dangers of dating violence all too well.  “My sister has been in an abusive relationship, and it was really hard, because none of my family knew for a long time,” said Justin White. “I think a lot of people think they can handle it on their own, but they really can’t,” claimed junior John Croft. Kristal Lucas, a junior, commented on why there are so many teens involved in violent relationships.  “Some people don’t tell anyone, because they don’t want people to know.  And, I think other kids don’t report it that much, because they either don’t recognize it as abuse, or they don’t want to get involved in someone else’s business.” PLC hopes to change some of those factors by creating a safe environment that encourages students to speak out against violence.  The efforts seem to be working considering several students described PLC as a “family” atmosphere, and said Ms. Mac is like a mother-figure to them all. “We’re like our own little community,” said Croft - a community working together for a brighter, safer future for everyone. “Our generation controls the future of the U.S.  Dating violence is a huge problem, and if we don’t stop it; it’s just going to get bigger.” TESSA Teen Crisis Line – (719) 243-7818 For more information on Teen Dating Violence: please visit:Colorado Anti-Violence Program www.coavp.org (888) 557-4441Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence: www.ccadv.org (888) 778-7091     Teen Remembers Violence; Wants to Help Others Posted: 10:10 PM Sep 29, 2009Reporter: David Nancarrow For the first time, a young woman at the center of a very public tragedy has come forward. Tiffany Howard spoke with 11 News about how far teenage domestic violence can go.   Sitting down with Tiffany Howard is like sitting down with almost any 18-year-old girl. She has an individual style and presence that is all her own.   "I'm doing pretty good[these days]," she said.   Life, for Tiffany, has already shown her experiences not meant for children.   "Anytime we would get in fights, I was the reason why we were fighting, it was something about me even if I didn't do anything," she said.   In 2007, Tiffany had a boyfriend named A.J.   "I just thought he really cared for me and wanted to be around me all the time," she remembered.   Their intense relationship spilled over one last time on November 5th on a street in Colorado Springs. A.J. drove one car, chasing Tiffany and her friends in another. He chased them through the city, finally firing at them with a shotgun.   The group of friends who tried to help Tiffany that day were teens themselves. Jeremy Vasquez was shot, as was Michael Fisher, who was the driver. He died at the scene. A.J. beat Tiffany with a shotgun before taking his own life. Vasquez was left fighting for his, and Tiffany lay battered in a field nearby. She was 16.   "If we would fight and it got violent, alot of the times I would blame myself and think that I started it. [I thought] that it was completely normal that everyone throws fists once in a while if they get mad enough," said Tiffany.   Experts stress that throwing fists is far from normal, but violence is something that happens too often in teenage dating relationships.   "One in 3 teens, it's estimated, will experience abuse in their relationship before the time they reach being adults, so it is very prevalent," said Cheryl Stueve.   Stueve now works closely with Tiffany through the local organization TESSA. Her mission is shedding light on the problem of teens who hurt other teens.   "I think a lot of times it's seen as a stage for kids: they're hormonal, they'll grow out of it."   She goes on to say it's not taken seriously when they are seen getting into altercations. She says, "I think alot of times it's done behind closed doors as it is with adults, so they're not seeing it in their faces so it's not recognized."   Stueve said there are warning signs parents can watch for such as unexplained injuries, withdrawal, or evidence of controlling behavior. Following Tiffany's ordeal, schools are opening doors for guests like Cheryl to offer advice to teachers, and to better reach teens.   "They're remaining very silent. They're not reaching out for help, so if we can get in to classrooms and get them educated they can reach out for help and start talking and the cycle starts breaking," said Stueve.   "Reach out. You could avoid a lot of trouble in your life," suggested Tiffany.   Tiffany and Jeremy Vasquez have decided to add their voices whenever they can, talking with others their age who may feel afraid, or alone.   "Maybe it will help some people, maybe look at me, like I'm the only person going through this," Jeremy said.   Jeremy is still working toward recovery with the help of Tiffany's friendship. Both of them wear blue bracelets bearing the name of their friend, Michael Fisher.   They are two teenagers who now share what they know about a very grown up matter.   "It's awesome to be able to help people, or show them domestic violence when they might not be able to see it," Tiffany said.   Their goal is to do whatever they can to prevent it from happening again.   October is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness month. Tiffany and Jeremy are already scheduled to make guest-speaking appearances on the topic locally and at the State Capitol in Denver next month.       Domestic violence program could face severe cut backs                                                                                                             zzBy John Romero                                                                     Posted : Aug 31, 2009 6:57 PMUpdated: Aug 31, 2009 7:01 PM                                                                     A program designed to assist victims of domestic violence may be severely depleted depending on a controversial November vote. The program in question is the Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team or DVERT. Voters in November could decide the future of the program and it some partners of DVERT worried. Many of DVERT's resources through the Colorado Springs Police Department could be gone as part of police budget cuts if the proposed city property tax increase fails in this November's vote.  Police tell us their DVERT resources would drop down to only to 2 employees if the tax doesn't pass. Victim advocate groups such as TESSA are concerned over the possible depletion of the DVERT program.  Connie Brachtenbach, TESSA's executive director, says they've seen a 50% increase in calls for help this year, and cut backs to DVERT could be devastating. "It can be a confusing process for women and children in these types of situations." says Brachtenbach, "With the team going away I think it will be an even bigger challenge for victims to get the help and support they need." The El Paso County Sheriff's Office had to drop out of the program last year due to a similar budget problem.   Sexual Assault On The Rise Posted: // July 9, 2009 09:06 PM MDT   Updated: // July 15, 2009 03:26 PM MDT // by Cheryl Rezac.reza@krdo.com   COLORADO SPRINGS - Authorities say almost all crime in Colorado Springs is on the decline. However, sexual assault is still on the rise. Sergeant Bill Dehart with the Colorado Springs Police Department says sexual assaults are up here almost three percent so far this year. And in the last quarter of 2008 the police department saw a twenty percent increase in sexual assaults in Colorado Springs.   Some of the reasons police could be seeing this increase is because the population is growing or there are more violent predators on the streets or police say more victims may be reporting the crime. A new law was passed last July, it allows victims to get a "Jane Doe" rape kit done at Memorial Hospital, police don't have to file a report at the time of the crime, but the evidence will still be on file, so the victim can decide later if she'd like to press charges.   Tessa reports helping 400 victims every year. The organization's spokesperson Shawna Kemppainen says, "over 60 percent of the time a rape is never even reported." Tessa also reports one in four women in colorado will be raped, and one in seventeen men. Kemppainen says, "...more than 75 percent of the time a victim knows their assailant."   Police say they're doing what they can to reduce the numbers by beefing up their manpower. Recently, the department created an adult sexual assault unit to help deal with the problem and have added another detective to that unit.   Kemppainen says one answer to the problem is to educate youth about sexual assault. She says that the majority of offenders commit their first crime before the age of 18.