Usage of two dating violence prevention programs being used nationwide proposed to Rockwall ISD

To help prevent the nation’s dating violence epidemic from increasing in Rockwall County, I met yesterday with Rockwall ISD Superintendent Dr. Gene Burton and Communications Director Sheri Fowler to propose that the school district immediately begin incorporating two state-of-the-art dating abuse prevention and reduction programs which are currently being used in hundreds of schools across the nation.

Also in attendance were new Rockwall District Attorney Kenda Culpepper and Vicki Oldham, child abuse & sex crimes investigator for the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office, whom I had also invited to learn more about the programs.

Proposed for use were the “Choose Respect” campaign – which targets 11-14-year-olds before they begin dating – plus the “Love Is Not Abuse” classroom curriculum, designed to prevent and reduce dating violence among high school age youth.

Associated with the new National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline, both high-quality programs deal with current dating violence issues – such as new technology – since they were each created and updated during the past three years.

They include interactive learning tools, websites, videos, discussion topics, teaching tips and  recommendations for generating strong community support.

The Choose Respect campaign was developed by the nation’s CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) of the U.S. Health & Human Services Dept. It was rolled out nationwide in 2006 in ten major cities, including Houston and San Antonio. It can be found online at www.chooserespect.org.

The Love Is Not Abuse classroom curriculum was developed by leading educators for Liz Claiborne Inc, a leader in the nation’s fight against domestic and dating violence. It can be found at www.loveisnotabuse.com.

The meeting went well, as I cited statistics and explained the need for and benefits of incorporating these high-quality programs into the RISD. After a short discussion about dating violence and how much more schools must teach nowadays than just “the three Rs,” Dr. Burton confirmed that RISD will do whatever it takes to deal with this issue. Already, he said RISD is planning several special presentations in the Spring.

As the meeting concluded Dr. Burton asked that I develop an impactful presentation, as soon as possible, which we can show to the RISD staff and community to explain the need and benefit of such a comprehensive program. He said RISD will help with technology, and hopes that the District Attorney’s office, law enforcement and others will assist me, as well.

Can’t wait to begin this project!

Kaufman ISD Superintendent meets with Lillian Smith volunteers to discuss dating violence program

Kaufman ISD Superintendent Todd Williams met with survivors Tanya Pankz and Candi Banks today to learn more about the Lillian Smith Foundation’s program to help combat family violence and dating violence.

Tanya Pankz is the mother of 2001 Rockwall High School graduate Jennifer Pankz, who was murdered in 2002 by a boy she was trying to stop dating at UNT (University of North Texas).

Candi Banks is a survivor of a four-year marriage years ago to an abusive husband who threatened to kill her. Banks daughter, also a UNT student, experienced dating violence with a boy she dated but successfully broke up with him after receiving her mom’s help.

According to both women, Williams was very receptive to receiving the help of the Lillian Smith Foundation to develop a Kaufman ISD dating violence program, after seeing Pankz’ Fox 4 TV news video about her daughter’s murder. He plans to bring several of his administrative staff to witness her “Dating Violence Dangers” presentation Oct. 29 at the Rockwall ISD Administration building.

Williams is also friends with Rockwall ISD Superintendent Dr. Gene Burton, who is a strong supporter of the Lillian Smith Foundation’s Dating Violence Dangers presentation.  They will likely be speaking together about the subject soon.

Rockwall ISD Superintendent meets with Lillian Smith members to discuss dating violence program

Rockwall ISD Superintendent Dr. Gene Burton met today with Lillian Smith Foundation members Tanya Pankz, Candi Banks and J.J. Smith to discuss developing a dating violence program for teens who are attending Rockwall ISD high school and middle schools.

Dr. Burton told Tanya, Candi and J.J. that he would be grateful for their help with developing a dating violence program at Rockwall ISD, after he attended a recent “Dating Violence Dangers” presentation by Tanya Pankz and J.J. Smith, where he heard the story about Tanya’s daughter, Jennifer, who graduated from Rockwall High School in 2001 but was murdered in 2002 at UNT when she tried to break up with a boy she had been dating.

Dr. Burton said he is also ready to join the Rockwall County Coalition Against Family Violence, which J.J. organized during the past two years, so that the RISD dating violence program will be a community-wide effort.

The Texas legislature passed a bill in 2007 requiring each state school district to develop a program to combat dating violence, because dating violence has reached epidemic numbers in Texas schools, according to research conducted for the Attorney General’s office.

The research conducted by the Texas Council On Family Violence revealed that 75% of 16 to 24-year-old Texans have either personally been involved in dating violence or know someone who has.

Furthermore, fifty percent of 16 to 24-year-old Texans have been personally involved in dating violence, which includes physical, sexual, verbal and/or psychological assaults against a dating partner.

Dr. Burton invited Lillian Smith members to schedule the next Rockwall Coalition meeting at the RISD conference room to further ensure that all County victim resources are identified and working together.