Spring 2013
NEW ENGLAND LEARNING CENTER FOR WOMEN IN TRANSITION
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
THE INVISIBLE WAR: Sexual Assault in the Military
NELCWIT invites you to learn more about sexual assault
in the military. The Veterans Education Project (VEP) is
coordinating a visit from journalist Helen Benedict and
a screening of The Invisible War, a film based on her
writing which documents the harrowing journeys of
service members who experienced sexual violence.
Helen Benedict will speak about her research and
writing on women veterans and soldiers, which inspired
the film The Invisible War, directed by Kirby Dick. The
Invisible War debuted at last year’s Sundance Film
Festival and won several awards, and was nominated
for the 2013 Academy Awards in the Best Documentary
Feature category. You can view a trailer for the film at
http://oscar.go.com/nominees/documentaryfeature/the-invisible-war.
VEP, an independent non-profit organization founded
in 1982 by Vietnam veterans and based in Amherst,
Massachusetts, trains and supports local military
veterans to share their personal stories of war and
homecoming in area schools and public venues.
Monday, April 8, 7:30 p.m. Lecture by Helen Benedict
in the Main Lecture Hall, Franklin Patterson Building,
Hampshire College, Amherst, MA. Discussion will follow
Benedict's
talk,
including
responses
from
representatives of area programs that counsel and
support victims of sexual assault.
Tuesday, April 9, at 7:30 p.m. See The Invisible War at
the East Lecture Hall, Franklin Patterson Building,
Hampshire College.
These events are co-sponsored by the Veterans
Education Project, Hampshire College, The Brookfield
Institute and NELCWIT and others. For more
information, contact VEP at 413-253-4947 or
vep@crocker.com, or visit http://www.hampshire.edu/
news/Lecture-by-Helen-Benedict-and-Film-Screeningof-The-Invisible-War-26056.htm.
JOIN US AGAIN THIS YEAR
The Friends of NELCWIT's
Sixth Annual International Women's Day Celebration
Thursday, April 11, 2013, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Greenfield Community College
Keynote Speaker, Attorney Sandra Staub, Legal
Director, ACLU Foundation of Connecticut
Former Chief of NW District Attorney’s Domestic
Violence Unit
Former NELCWIT Board Member & Legal Counsel
Please RSVP by 4/4/13 and join over 135 friends of
NELCWIT for an evening of social change dialog and
collaboration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sexual Assault in the Military
What is military sexual trauma (MST)? This term refers
to psychological trauma experienced by military service
members as a result of sexual assault or sexual harassment.
(Department of Veterans Affairs)
Where can survivors turn for help? Every Veterans
Affairs facility has an MST coordinator who serves as a
contact person for MST-related issues. The coordinator can
help veterans find and access VA services and programs. VA
Outpatient Clinic, 143 Munson Street, Greenfield, Phone:
(413) 773-8428.
How does NELCWIT help survivors of MST? NELCWIT is
the Rape Crisis Center for our service area. Our 24 hour
hotline (413-772-0806) refers survivors to the Military
SafeHelpline (phone contact: 877-995-5247 or website:
http://www.safehelpline.org). NELCWIT’s medical
advocates are on call 24/7 and can assist sexual assault
victims at the hospital or police station, with the collection
of forensic evidence, with the court process, and with
safety planning, resources, and referrals to appropriate
trauma-informed services. NELCWIT also offers free and
confidential short term individual and group counseling, as
well as connection with a therapist in the community for
longer in depth counseling.
New England Learning Center for Women in Transition
479 Main Street, PO Box 520, Greenfield, MA, 01302
Main Office 413-772-0871, Crisis Line 888-249-0860, Orange Outreach Office 978-544-9857
http://www.nelcwit.org/ info@nelcwit.org
NELCWIT’s IMPACT – Annual Report 2011-2012
Stewardship and Commitment to Sustainability
NELCWIT’s board and leadership collaborate carefully to
manage our financial and human resources efficiently and
responsibly. This new fiscal year we have made great strides
to enhance our development plan and carefully review our
program expenses to ensure that we can sustain quality
services to survivors. Our financial accounting is managed by
our colleagues at Nonprofit Data Management, LLC. Provided
below are the revenue and expense totals from NELCWIT’s
audited financial statements for last fiscal year ending June
30, 2012.
Revenue: $968,917
Expenses: $982,094
Net Assets/Fund Balance: $106.009
Before
caption
a goes here
Program
Services:
$791,876
Management/General $187.997
Fundraising: $2221
WE TAKE PRIDE IN OUR WORKPLACE PRACTICES
1. Completed a free energy audit through MassSave. We
plan to incorporate energy saving bulbs and fixtures in
2013.
2. Reduce, Reuse & Recycle NELCWIT recycles whenever
possible, uses recycled printer cartridges, and emphasizes
reuse, curbside recycling and paper shredding with a local
company.
3. NELCWIT sponsors a cell phone recycling program,
donating reusable phones to survivors for emergency 911
use, and having the others responsibly recycled.
3. We support local business and deeply appreciate our
business sponsors for our fundraising events.
After caption goes here
5. NELCWIT’s leadership and program service goals support
and honor the gift of strengthening everyone. Our
leadership endeavors to hold a vision broad enough to
inspire others to take parts of it and make it their own.
MISSION STATEMENT NELCWIT’s mission is to work
within the community to build safety, justice, and dignity
for all. We offer counseling, education, advocacy, referrals
to shelter, and community organizing to women and
children who have survived domestic violence or sexual
abuse. As an antiracist, multicultural organization,
NELCWIT also joins with and mobilizes other groups and
individuals who are working to end domestic violence and
sexual abuse, ensure human rights, and create social
change. Since 1976, our programs have helped over
13,000 women! We are grateful for the community’s
support over the past 36 years!
NELCWIT’s Board of Directors FY2011-2012
Dottie Benedetti, Member
Gretchen Krull, President
Barbara Bodzin, Treasurer Heather Maguire, Clerk
Christine Bross, Member
Susan Manatt, Member
Reenie Devino, Member
Rob Okun, Member
Mary Jo Korfhage, Member
NELCWIT’s IMPACT REPORT
Message from Cheryl Rogers, JD, Executive Director
It is important for us to share with the community our impact on
people’s lives. NELCWIT’s overall service goal is to enhance safety
and justice for battered women, their children, and survivors of
sexual assault. Our programs are survivor centered and focus on
increasing knowledge about healthy relationships and access to
community resources, while also improving the community’s
response and the public’s knowledge and involvement in
preventing domestic and sexual violence. NELCWIT’s crisis hotline
and advocacy offer lifelines for victims in danger, providing
support, information, safety planning, and resources. Safety is the
most important aspect of healing. The trauma of domestic and
sexual assault profoundly impacts survivors’ sense of self and
capacity to respond. A recent national evaluation looked at the
effectiveness of community-based domestic/sexual violence
programs. Its data shows that community-based programs improve
survivors’ social support and access to resources, increasing
protective factors that enhance their safety. Women who worked
with advocates experienced less violence over time, reported
higher quality of life and social support, and had less difficulty
obtaining community resources. NELCWIT provides a safety net of
care and service for Franklin County.
Crisis Calls Domestic Violence
1041
Crisis Calls Sexual Assault
199
Crisis Counseling Sessions
312
Total Survivors Receiving Crisis Support
612
SAFEPLAN Advocates
Restraining Order Assistance
Prevention Education Workshops
718
Latina Outreach Program
Visioning Bear Circle,
Events and Restorative Justice
Franklin County’s Children’s Supervised
Visitation Program
Fundraising
$55,702 Investments,
$112
United Way,
$36,921
64 workshops
875 people
382 served
29
59 Intakes
19 Families
In-Kind
Support,
$6,153
Foundations,
$65,000
State and
Federal
Grants,
$798,618
NELCWIT Funding Sources FY2011-2012
NELCWIT IRS Form 990 is available for review at Guidestar.
Prevention News and Resources
“RELATIONSHIPS ARE THE ESSENCE OF OUR LIVES.”
By Dr. Robin M. Ikeda, MD, MPH, Deputy Director for
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Our interactions with family, friends, teachers, coworkers and significant others are critical to our
overall well-being. As a parent, I strive to teach my
two daughters, 13-year-old Lisa and 11-year-old
Claire, how to build healthy relationships. Together
we talk about the qualities of a good friend, how
they can be a good friend and behaviors harmful to
friendships. Importantly, their dad and I seek to
model healthy relationships with each other and
with them.” My hope for Lisa and Claire is that the
healthy relationships we try to foster between
them and with their friends will form a solid
foundation for moving into healthy dating
relationships. In my role at the CDC Injury Center, I
see many injury and violence statistics, but as the
mother of two young daughters, the ones
concerning teens always pique my interest.”
Read More
As a parent, sister, aunt, uncle, Big Sister, Big Brother,
or professional youth mentor, you can make an
enormous difference in the lives of children. Please
join NELCWIT’s prevention efforts through a few
simple steps within your family discussions, parenting
and civic activities. Educators can also help lead the
way in partnership with parents, by being
knowledgeable about dating violence and talking
openly with students. We all can teach children about
the importance of healthy relationships.
NELCWIT recommends the following resource from
the CDC, in partnership with Liz Claiborne, Inc.” Dating
Matters: Understanding Teen Dating Violence
Prevention. You can also take advantage of this 60
minute, free, online training to gain first-hand
knowledge of the risk factors and warning signs
associated with teen dating violence and access
resources on helping teens build healthy relationships.
Contact NELCWIT at 413-772-0871 for prevention
resources or a prevention program for your group:
Strong Oak, Prevention Coordinator ext. 104
Jessie Aquino, Prevention Educator ext. 120
Madeleine Gorman, Prevention Educator ext. 312
DID YOU KNOW? 9.4 percent of high school students
report being hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by
their boyfriend or girlfriend in the 12 months prior to the
survey. (CDC 2010)
Digital Story Telling – The creative power of youth!
Article by Madeleine Gorman and Jessie Aquino
Jesse Merrick, Video/Instructional Technology Teacher at
Frontier Regional School, loves engaging his students
with issues that are not usually tackled in the classroom
and grounding their work in the community around
them. When Mr. Merrick met NELCWIT Community
Educator Jessie Aquino at Frontier’s annual health fair,
he thought working together could be a great
collaboration. Mr. Merrick proposed the idea to his
Advanced Studio 2 students and they were excited about
the idea of using media to speak out against domestic
violence and teen dating violence. After brainstorming
ideas, the Advanced Studio class decided that they
wanted to help make other teens more aware of the
domestic violence and sexual assault services in their
community and decided to create a public service
announcement video for NELCWIT. Jessie and NELCWIT
Child & Family Advocate Madeleine Gorman worked
with Mr. Merrick and his students to develop their idea
and figure out the best way to get the word out.
If you’re interested in seeing how the students of
Frontier’s Advanced Studio 2 class joined NELCWIT in
speaking out against domestic violence and sexual
assault, visit our website to view their PSA and check out
the amazing work they did! A big thanks to Jesse
Merrick, Frontier Regional School and all the students in
the Advanced Studio 2 class: Rylan Baronas, Tyler Blais,
Brice Gagnon, Hannah Henderson, Oliver Lowe, Callum
Price, Beaver Rosewarne, and Mychaela Williams-King!
This project is part of NELCWIT’s prevention initiative to engage youth in
ending violence against women and girls, and a funded initiative through the
Massachusetts Rural Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Project of the MA
Dept. of Public Health. Office on Violence against Women of the U.S.
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Franklin County Children’s Visitation Center
1
Interview with Christina Badillo, Senior Visitation Monitor
When did the program start? What is its current status? In September 2011, the newly opened FCCVP began offering
supervised visitation, a program for families who require an alternative to unsupervised visits between children and noncustodial parents. We started with 3 families who came for 2-hour weekly visits. Currently we have a full program with the
participation of 13 families and 14 children ranging in age from 6 months old to 15 years old. Unfortunately, at this point our
program is only open on Saturdays, so in order to accommodate so many families; we can only offer visits every other week.
Why is this program needed? Our program is designed to support and provide a safe space for children whose lives have
been affected by domestic or sexual violence. During visits children have the opportunity to continue their relationships with
their non-custodial parents. As precautions, trained monitors supervise the visits and a security guard is always present.
Can you describe a positive outcome of the program? A positive outcome is when a child and the visiting parent are able to
engage with each other by playing games or reading books together or in conversation. This is a way to maintain or rebuild a
healthy connection in a space that fosters the emotional and physical safety of the child.
Do you collaborate with any other groups or organizations?
FCCVP is part of the Supervised Visitation Network (SVN), which has provided great support by offering updated resources
and trainings. We also participate in monthly meetings with the Massachusetts Coalition for Supervised Visitations. During
these meetings we collaborate with most of the visitation centers in Massachusetts. We also work closely with the
Department for Children and Families and with courts across Massachusetts, especially with the Probate and Family Court of
Franklin County.
Do you have plans for the future of the program? We are planning to expand the program to provide more services for
residents of Franklin County. Soon, we will start evening sessions with non-custodial parents who participate in the program
to discuss issues related to domestic violence and parenting funded in part by the Verizon Foundation. The Franklin County
Children’s Visitation Center is funded by a contract with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.
Click here for more information or call 413-772-0871 x119.
Clothesline Project brings awareness to the issue of
violence against women and children
CALENDAR OF EVENTS APRIL 2013
April 5-7, Women of Amherst present On Stage. See
http://womenofamherst.eventbrite.com/ for more information. All
proceeds will be donated to NELCWIT.
April 8, 7:30 Lecture by Helen Benedict, Main Lecture Hall, Franklin
Patterson Building, Hampshire College, Amherst MA.
April 9, at 7:30 The film "The Invisible War" will be shown at the
East Lecture Hall Franklin Patterson Building, Hampshire College,
Amherst, MA.
th
April 11, 5-7 p.m. Join the Friends of NELCWIT for the 6 annual
International Women’s Day Celebration fundraiser. See
http://www.nelcwit.org/International%20Women's%20Day%20res
cheduled.pdf for more information or to reserve a place.
April 16, Day of Action - Join NELCWIT for a Flag and Clothesline
Ceremony honoring survivor’s resiliency. 479 Main Street,
Greenfield, 12:00 -2:00 p.m. Parking available on the Street.
May 2, 5-7 p.m. Tree Rededication Ceremony in memory of victims
of domestic violence in Montague, Peskeomskut Park, Turners
Falls. Public invited! For more info contact Susan, Montague
Catholic Social Ministries, susan@mcsmcommunity.org or 413863-4804 x1001.
th
May 5 Zumba Party with MEGAdance Fitness, Instructor Megan
Shaw and DJ Bobby C. Guiding Star Grange, Greenfield, MA 2-3:30
p.m. Admission $10.00. 100% of proceeds to benefit NELCWIT.
Article by Barbara Broussard, GCC Intern
Greenfield Community College’s Clothesline Project gives those
affected by violence an opportunity to express their emotions
by decorating a t-shirt and displaying it on the clothesline. The
project’s intention is to honor survivors, act as a memorial for
victims, and also aid in healing for those affected. The
clothesline display helps to educate our society and promote
awareness of violent crimes against women and children.
The shirts on the clothesline are color-coded: survivors of rape
or sexual assault use RED shirts, survivors of battering or
assault use YELLOW shirts, BLUE AND GREEN shirts are used by
survivors of incest or child abuse, those attacked because of
their sexual orientation use LAVENDER or PURPLE, and WHITE
shirts are used to commemorate those who died of violence.
Greenfield Community College will host a workshop from 12:00
– 2:00 pm on Wednesday, April 9, 2013 in the Women’s
Resource Center, located on the 2nd floor of the main building
on campus, to decorate t-shirts with singer/songwriter Robin
Lane of Songbird Sings, Inc., who will create songs from
victims’ stories. On Wednesday, April 17, she will perform
some of these songs near the clothesline display located
between the two campus buildings. This event is open to the
public.
Like us and follow our events and opportunities on FACE BOOK or visit our website at www.nelcwit.org