Dove, Inc.

Training is available for individuals interested in educating themselves on the issues surrounding domestic violence. The training will take place April 30 through May 16, Monday through Thursday afternoons from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., in Decatur, at Dove, 302 S. Union, Dean Simcox Conference Room. This 40-hour training is approved by ICADV, Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence. This training is being facilitated by two Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professionals, one of whom is also an Illinois Certified Partner Abuse Intervention Professional. There is a $150 fee for the training, with some scholarships available. To register, contact Barbara Blakey at 217.428.6616. A phone interview starts the process and needs to take place by Noon, Monday, April 23. Individuals interested in making a difference in the lives of victims and children served by Dove’s Domestic Violence Program are encouraged to participate in this training. Be an advocate for peace in

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Here are a few signs to watch for: 　 A person who is in a violent relationship often is: afraid of her partner’s temper* afraid to break up because her partner has threatened to hurt himself or others constantly apologizing for or defending her partner’s behavior afraid to disagree with her partner isolated from family or friends embarrassed in front of others because of her partner’s words or actions intimidated by her partner and coerced into having sex * Pronoun choices reflect the fact that over 95% of the perpetrators of domestic violence are male. 　 A person who exhibits violent behavior in a relationship often: has an explosive temper is possessive or jealous of his partner’s time, friends, and/or family constantly criticizes his partner’s thoughts, feelings, or appearance pinches, slaps, grabs, shoves, or throws things at his partner coerces or intimidates his partner into having sex blames his partner for his own

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, which always makes me sad.     When I think of teens, I conjure up positive images of school, college applications, music and fashion, earning a driver’s license, crazy fun with friends, mood swings, that first crush, and steady growth into independence and adulthood - NOT violence and fear.   However, for many teens, dating violence is a terrifying reality.   The statistics are staggering.   According to Love Is Respect, the National Teen Dating Violence Helpline , 1.5 million high school students experience physical abuse from a dating partner every year.   One in three adolescents in the U. S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner.   Use of technology to coerce, stalk, and blackmail teen partners is increasingly common in abusive teen relationships.   Girls and young women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rates of intimate partner violence – almost triple the natio