“1 IN 4 WOMEN AND 1 IN 9 MEN IN THE U.S. ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIVES.” – CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey 2005

“1 in 3 TEENS REPORT KNOWING A FRIEND OR PEER WHO HAS BEEN HIT, PUNCHED, SLAPPED, CHOKED OR PHYSICALLY HURT BY HIS/HER PARTNER.”
— Teenage Research Unlimited.

“CHILDREN WHO WITNESS VIOLENCE AT HOME ARE FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT OR SUFFER VIOLENCE WHEN THEY BECOME ADULTS.” –The Domestic Abuse Project

Far more of the people in our community are victims or perpetrators of domestic violence than we think. This project will help kids get tutoring, support families in need, and connect people with potentially life-saving / life-changing training in addressing violence in the home.  Toward that end, there are two places we are planning to direct the proceeds for this album:

1) Building Bridges: This community based effort has brought together people from local schools, law enforcement, churches, apartment managers, and Washington County guardian ad leitem program… all with a common purpose to promote the well being of children and support families in the Oakdale area.  Click here for local news stories about Building Bridges and the recent activities they have provided, including after school tutoring. 1/2 the proceeds after production will help fund Building Bridges this first year of publication.

2) Families affected by domestic violence.   I am in contact, through the school, with the families struck by tragedy in Oakdale last fall.  1/2 the proceeds will go toward them this first year.

Other Resources: The Lutheran Community Foundation is providing free training for congregations who wish to learn more about how their church can address domestic violence.  By partnering with the ELCA’s Justice for Women, they are providing training for congregational teams who are interested in addressing domestic and sexual violence. The goal of the training is to prepare clergy and lay leaders to intervene in and prevent family violence and to create safe congregations.

For more information or to register your congregation for this training, please go to www.thelcf.org and scroll down to Safe and Healthy Training to find the link to the application.

The Lutheran Community Foundation is also sponsoring a series of monthly Faith Trust Institute training webinars that address issues surrounding domestic violence, focusing on safe and healthy individuals and congregations. For more information on these free webinars, visit www.faithtrustinstitute.org/training.

Other links:
www.domesticabuseproject.com

www.breakthecycle.org

National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
www.thehotline.org