Domestic Violence Prevention Education and Support...

DVASH, which means honey in Hebrew, recognizes the desire to bring the healing and hope of sweet honey to the horrific problem of Domestic Violence in the Jewish Community.

The mission of DVASH, which is an initiative of Jewish Family Service of the Cincinnati area, is to support survivors of Domestic Violence; to educate the Jewish Community about all aspects of Domestic Violence; and to coordinate social action and healing programs.

Domestic Violence Awareness in the Jewish Community: Through DVASH Jewish Family Service provides Domestic Violence awareness programs throughout the Jewish community and is available to speak to your group or organization. Programs include women’s seders, film showings, focus groups and discussions about healthy and unhealthy relationships. These programs are supported in part by NCJW. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Linda Kean at 766-3318 or lkean@jfscinti.org.

DVASH collaborates with the national organization Jewish Women International (JWI), whose mission is to empower women and girls – through economic literacy; community training; healthy relationship education; and the proliferation of women’s leadership. Our innovative programs, advocacy and philanthropic initiatives protect the fundamental rights of all girls and women to live in safe homes, thrive in healthy relationships, and realize the full potential of their personal strength. For more information about JWI: http://www.jwi.org/.

DVASH spreads awareness of domestic violence by placing posters and cards with emergency phone numbers in the stalls of Jewish community women's restrooms. This Domestic Violence "InStall Awareness" project is funded by the Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund of Jewish Federation of Greater Cincinnati.   Signs of a Healthy vs Unhealthy Relationship

Two community seders (one for Passover, April 2006, and one for Tu B’Shevat, February 2007) helped raise awareness and provided opportunities for healing.  Titled Moving Toward Freedom, the seders reached out to advocates, victims, and survivors of domestic violence to support one another in looking with hope toward a brighter future. The programs emphasized the importance of working together to help eradicate domestic violence by bringing the issue out into the open, acknowledging its presence, and educating our leaders and ourselves.

The Women's Seders were held in undisclosed locations to protect the safety and privacy of all participants.  They were sponsored by Cincinnati Section, National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW).  These seders are available to be replicated through congregations and Jewish women’s organizations throughout Greater Cincinnati.  For more information, contact Linda Kean, 513-766-3318, Lkean@jfscinti.org.  To learn about NCJW work on a national basis: http://www.ncjw.org/higherground/

Jewish Family Service's Counseling Department is unique in its ability to provide counseling and therapy services for the very young to the elderly. Jewish Family Service has licensed professional counselors who are specialists in individual, marital, family, group, child and adolescent therapy. Each counselor has expertise in working with clients who have experienced various forms of domestic abuse.

Jewish Family Service offers Teen Dating Violence Prevention Education (TDVP) and Bullying Prevention programs in the Jewish community for students of all ages and for parents. In-service trainings are available for teachers and camp counselors. The programs help teens and their parents recognize dating violence, warning signs of an abusive relationship, the differences between healthy and unhealthy relationships, and how to locate community resources and support. 

Teen Dating Violence Prevention in the Community

Listen to the February 2010 interview on WVXU

The Teen Dating Violence Prevention program is presented in collaboration with the YWCA’s Family Violence Prevention Project (FVPP). The FVPP’s school-based initiative provides classroom instruction, community awareness campaigns, in-service trainings and intervention programs throughout the Greater Cincinnati area.

The ten-session classroom curriculum “Safe Dates” engages students in activities and discussions about current teen dating violence issues. Classroom instruction focuses on de-mystifying common myths about dating violence and provides opportunities for the students to ask anonymous questions.

Topics include:

• How to Identify Warning Signs of an Unhealthy Relationship
• How to Help a Friend who is experiencing dating violence
• Understanding Gender Stereotypes which addresses gender roles in our society and media images that can contribute to unrealistic expectations in dating relationships.
• Power and Control in Relationships
• Why Do People Stay in Unhealthy Relationships?
• Sexual Harassment
• Healthy Communication
• Drug and Alcohol Abuse and Dating

In May 2010, “Is This Love?” A short video was debut that highlights student learning of the Family Violence Prevention Project. The video features students from Taft and Oyler High Schools who volunteered to answer questions about what they’ve learned from their participation in “Safe Dates”.

For more information about Teen Dating Violence Prevention, contact Erin McNew: 513-766-3328, emcnew@jfscinti.org

Additional information about programs of the Family Violence Prevention Project visit www.embracehope.org or contact Kristin Shrimplin at 513-361-2144, kshrimplin@YWCACIN.ORG

Additional resources about Teen Dating Violence Prevention:

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline (www.loveisrespect.org) 888.331.9471

YWCA Hotline: 888.872.9259

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