New Corporate Alliance Website Helps Employers With Much Needed Resources To Recognize & Respond To Domestic Violence

The Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence (CAEPV) is expanding its website (http://www.caepv.org/) to provide information, tools, research, and best practices to assist employers to help respond to the impact of domestic violence on the workplace. Information on http://www.caepv.org/ can help employers of any size provide a safe and supportive work environment for employees who may be enduring intimate partner violence and abuse. The extensive upgrade of http://www.caepv.org/ was made possible through a grant from Verizon, in order to ensure that employers can easily implement workplace programs to help their employees and create safer and more productive workplaces.

The site provides employers with the following:

-The business case for understanding domestic violence as a workplace issue— including the latest statistics on health care costs, productivity, absenteeism, and workplace safety.
Simple steps companies can take to address the issue proactively – including sample policies, articles and training materials.

-Best practices and program ideas from employers across the US and around the world – including Kaiser Permanente, Liz Claiborne Inc., and Verizon Wireless.

-The latest research and findings on domestic violence and its impact on the workplace - such a comprehensive inventory of US workplace prevention practices created in partnership with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and CAEPV.

-An RSS feed to inform subscribers when the site is updated with the latest information on domestic violence and its impact on the workplace.

A national benchmark survey of 1200 employed adults released by CAEPV in October 2005 found that intimate partner violence has a wide and far-reaching effect on Americans’ working lives – with 21% of those surveyed identifying themselves as victims of domestic violence. In October 2006, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics found that 24% of workplace violence incidents reported by employers in the past year were domestic violence-related. However, only 4% of workplaces in the US provide any kind of training to employees regarding domestic violence and its impact on the workplace.

CAEPV Executive Director Kim Wells said, “Because domestic violence’s impact does not stop at the office front door, America’s employers need to take action – by putting in place accessible programs and policies for colleagues and victims alike. Fortunately, effective programs are easy to establish and the information available on CAEPV’s new website will help employers begin to take the steps needed to create a safe and supportive work environment.”

Wells noted that the CAEPV website is considered by many across the US and around the world to be the central resource for information and resources related to domestic violence and the workplace. She said, “It is vital we are responsive in our efforts to assist employers anywhere at anytime -- and thanks to Verizon, we are able to do so through the updated technology and resources of our website."The Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence (CAEPV) is a leading force in the fight against intimate partner violence and its effects on the workplace. It is the only national organization of its kind founded by business leaders and focused on the workplace.

Since 1995, the Alliance has brought together dozens of progressive companies who exchange information, collaborate on projects, and use their influence to instigate change. The Alliance offers extensive research, policy knowledge and issue expertise to the business community, including training, program guidance, and crisis consultation – with programs designed to make the workplace safe and to prevent intimate partner violence from impacting the workplace. For more information, visit http://www.caepv.org.

Verizon delivers technology that touches life. The Verizon Foundation uses that technology and its financial resources to improve literacy and K-12 education; help families victimized by domestic violence; and improve the delivery of health care. For more information on the foundation, visit http://www.verizon.com/foundation.

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline "loveisrespect.org" Now Available

In response to the alarming rates of teen dating abuse through technology and the severe knowledge gap between parents and their teens, the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) and Liz Claiborne Inc. joined together to launch loveisrespect.org, The National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline (NTDAH). This 24-hour national web-based and telephone resource was created to help teens (ages 13-18) experiencing dating abuse and is the only helpline in the country serving all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Although there are national hotlines for adults, teens have special needs and require specific expertise, information and communication mechanisms for overcoming dating violence. Cumulative research from the NDVH indicates that 10 percent of the 17,000 calls answered monthly at the Hotline are from teenagers and young adults.

The first of its kind, NTDAH will operate via telephone and Web 24 hours a day and will be staffed by both teen and adult advocates. Teens (and parents) anywhere in the country can call toll free, 866-331-9474 or log on to the interactive Web site, loveisrespect.org, and receive immediate, confidential assistance. The site will offer secure, live interactive chat to teens, which will present them with a familiar technology and an accessible means for communication. While online or on the phone, teens will be given support as well as referrals to local resources in their hometown to provide them with the help they need.
· Hours of Operation: NTDAH will be staffed by trained volunteer and professional advocates 24 hours a day. Teenage peer advocates will staff the helpline and Web site during a block of time each day.
· Web site: NTDAH offers a live, interactive Web site -- loveisrespect.org - to provide a safe, confidential online resource for teens to ask questions, share experiences or express their feelings. The site features live interactive, instant chat with advocates. There will also be message boards, blogs as well as other valuable information to help teens cope with and understand healthy dating behavior and relationships.
· Phone number: 866.331.9474(866-331-8453 for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing)
· Staffing: Trained peer volunteers between the ages of 16-24 will provide advocacy during the peak hours of noon-2:00 a.m. (4:00 p.m. to midnight from February-May 2007). Trained adult advocates will provide assistance to peer advocates as well as overflow assistance and staffing during off-peak hours.
· Training: All volunteers have received more than 40 hours of training from current NDVH supervisory staff, survivors of teen violence and other experts in the field. Additionally, advocates will receive ongoing advanced training for issues related to violence to further assist teens in dealing with relationships.
· Confidentiality: NTDAH will not collect or maintain data that will compromise confidentiality such as IP addresses or caller ID. NTDAH will make all efforts to ensure that information is anonymous and confidential including training of staff to assure that privacy is of utmost concern.

Liz Claiborne Sponsors Technology & Teen Dating Abuse Survey

A new survey on teens and dating abuse reveals that an alarming number of teens in dating relationships are being controlled, threatened and humiliated through cell phones and the Internet with unimaginable frequency. The research also reveals disturbing data that a significant majority of parents are completely unaware of this type of dating abuse and the dangers facing their teens. The survey was conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited (TRU) for CAEPV Member Liz Claiborne Inc. Teens surveyed range in age from 13-18. Key Findings Include:

Teens report dating abuse via technology is a serious problem
-71% of teens regard boyfriends/girlfriends spreading rumors about them on cellphones and social networking sites as a serious problem.
-68% of teens say boyfriends/girlfriends sharing private or embarrassing pictures/videos on cell phones and computers is a serious problem.

Cell phone calls and texting at unimaginable frequency mean constant control day and night
-Nearly one in four teens in a relationship (24%) communicated with their partner via cellphone or texting HOURLY between midnight and 5:00am.
-One in three teens (30%) say they are text messaged 10, 20, 30 times an hour by a partner inquiring where they are, what they're doing, or who they're with.

Parents do not know about dating teens' constant contact
-67% of parents whose teens were checked up on 30 times per day on their cell phone were unaware this was happening.
-82% of parents whose teens were e-mailed or texted 30 times per hour were unaware this was happening.

Cell phones and the Internet have become weapons of teen dating abuse
-One in four teens in a relationship (25%) say they have been called names, harassed, or put down by their partner through cellphones and texting.
-One in five teens in a relationship (22%) have been asked to engage in sex by cellphone or the Internet when they do not want to.

Parents do not know about this abuse
-71% of parents were unaware that their teen is afraid of not responding to a cell phone call, text or IM message or e-mail for fear of what their partner might do.
-67% of parents were unaware that their teen was asked to have sex or engage in sexual acts via cell phone, e-mail, IM, or texting when they did not want to.

Parents believe technology makes dating abuse more prevalent and more hidden - yet few are doing anything about it
-57% of parents believe that computers and cell phones make abuse in teen dating relationships more likely to occur. And 53% of parents believe that computers and cell phones make abuse easier to conceal.
-But roughly one in four parents of teens (28%) say they limit their teenager's use of a cell phone and online communications with a partner.

Parents also do not know that their teens are victims of physical and sexual abuse
-75% of parents were unaware that their teen had been physically hurt or bruised by their partner.
-69% of parents were unaware that their teen was pressured by their partner to perform oral sex.
-58% of parents were unaware that their teen had been hit, slapped, pushed, punched, kicked or choked by their partner.

Click here to read the full report.

National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week February 5 - 9; Liz Claiborne Announces New National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline

This year, the United States Senate and the House of Representatives have again declared the first full week of February “National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week.” Both Houses of Congress are calling upon government representatives and agencies, private organizations and public officials to promote activities in their respective communities that raise awareness of teen dating violence and promote prevention strategies.

On January 17, Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton, Joe Lieberman, Patty Murray and Mike Crapo sent a letter to each Governor and the Mayor of Washington, D.C., asking for support of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week, February 5 - 9, 2007. To date, over 50 national, state and local organizations are partners in this year’s initiative.

CAEPV Member Liz Claiborne Inc. and the National Domestic Violence Hotline are excited to announce the launch of the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline on February 7th, 2007. The opening of the new hotline coincides with the second annual National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week (February 5th - 9th, 2007), and it will mark the beginning of the first national peer crisis line designated specifically for teens and young adults who are experiencing violence in their relationships.

Teens and young adults will also be able to visit the Teen Dating Violence Hotline’s Web site, which will provide safe, confidential information on dating and relationship violence. Online message boards where teens can ask questions and share experiences, or just express their feelings will also be available. The Hotline and Web site will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with teen peer advocates on the lines from 12 pm to 2 am, a time when many calls are expected. Young adult advocates ages 18-24 will also provide overnight services and support to serve more college-aged youth.