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A sexual violence prevention summit titled “Know More, Do More” will focus on improving prevention services to school-age children. The all-day program will take place at Bethany College Conference Center on Friday, Aug. 28.
“It’s time to stop the violence and build schools and communities where all feel safe,” said Debra Lopez-Bonasso, education coordinator with West Virginia Foundation for Rape and Information Services, which is one of the event sponsors. “We have to start to build healthier, safer communities. It really is everyone’s responsibility. Prevention moves us to that goal. It’s the right thing to do. And if we don’t do it, who will?”
This is the third summit to be held in West Virginia, the other two having taken place in Bridgeport and Beckley.
Melody Osborne, who is helping to coordinate the local summit through her role as the Adolescent Health Initiative coordinator in the Northern Panhandle, said professionals, such as nurses, educators, counselors and prevention workers – as well as parents – often simply don’t know the best practices for preventing sexual abuse and violence.
“The idea is to increase people’s knowledge on various areas of prevention. … I think it’s a unique opportunity for people to learn how to play a role in prevention,” Osborne said.
Speakers include U.S. Attorney Bill Ihlenfeld on cyberbullying, Sam Wilmoth with WV FRIS on bystander intervention and Selina Vickers with the Adolescent Health Initiative on how establishing healthy relationships between adults and children helps develop protective factors in children..
In addition, a theatrical performance titled “The Predator Among Us” by the Contemporary Youth Arts Company of Charleston will creatively inform attendees how sexual predators work their way into children’s lives.
Osborne said she especially was struck by the bystander intervention program during the summit she attended in Bridgeport.
“I walked away with a renewed sense of passion for the work that I do and felt empowered to rethink the way that I address prevention education as a whole,” she said.
In addition to hearing the presentations, each conference attendee will receive a free copy of the new West Virginia Sexual Violence Prevention and Training Resource Toolkit: A Guide for Working with School-Aged Children and Youth.”
Lopez-Bonasso, who was involved in constructing the toolkit, said it provides a vital resource for helping professionals address the issues faced by the children in their care.
The toolkit includes a self-assessment tool so users can see how much they know, an introduction to sexual violence and how to respond to a victim, a section on the public health concept of primary prevention, a section specifically on sexual violence and youth, a vetted resource guide and samples of successful programs.
Osborne said the 2012 Steubenville rape case that received international attention revealed the deficit of training local communities have in dealing with sexual violence issues.
“How did it happen and nobody else step in? How did parents who knew not step in? If we don’t develop the tools in adults to deliver effective prevention, how do we expect youth to step in? As educators, I don’t think we are given enough guidance on what to do,” Osborne said.
Bonasso added: “It’s critical that everyone have sufficient knowledge to address the prevention of these crimes as well as the ability to provide crisis intervention and support to anyone who may have been a victim.”
Vickers, one of the presenters, said feedback from the previous summits has been positive.
“Attendees at the southern workshop were excited to have concrete resources to take back to work with them, especially teachers and school counselors. They love having the ‘bible’ of sexual assault prevention at their fingertips,” she said, referring to the toolkit, which was compiled by the West Virginia Key Players in Sexual Violence Prevention, a partnership of WV FRIS and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
Continuing education credits are available for social work, counseling, law enforcement, principals, school counselors, nurses and domestic violence advocates. For information or to register, call Osborne at the Marshall County Family Resource Network, 304-845-3300 or email AHI Coordinator@comcast.net. The registration deadline is Friday, Aug. 21.