HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-10-21, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21,1992.
Centre responds to issue of violence
How does Huron County respond
to the problem of woman assault
and the resultant effects upon
children? Despite a desire to ignore
or avoid the issue, it is clear this is
no longer possible. In fact, various
community members, in conjunc
tion with the Huron County Board
of Education and S.W.A.N. (Stop
Woman Abuse Now: Co-ordinating
Committee Against Woman Abuse)
are committed to raising awareness
about woman abuse in Huron
County. ‘
The Huron-Perth Centres for
Children and Youth are part of this
team of people who are responding
to the problem of violence in the
family. In addition to individual,
marital and family counselling, this
recently accredited Children's
Mental Health Centre also provides
a specialized clinical response to
woman abuse.
Group Delta, a group therapy
program for men who have been
physically violent and emotionally
controlling with their partners is
offered in conjunction with
Renascence, a support group for
women who have been victims of
abuse and whose partners are
involved with Group Delta. This
program was developed in 1984, by
Dr. Doug Reberg and Laurie
Thompson of the Perth Centre, in
response to the increasing
incidence of woman abuse being
reported in counselling sessions at
the Huron-Perth Centres. Group
Delta uses social, behavioural and
cognitive interventions within its
psycho-educational format to reach
its objective of stopping men's
violence against women. The group
meets weekly and is co-facilitated
by Eugene Dufour of Stratford
Hospital and Meryl Thomas of
Huron Addiction Assessment and
Referral Centre.
Renascence was developed in
1989, as a support group for
women whose partners were
involved in Delta. It was formed in
response to a request by Group
Delta members and their partners,
because it was felt that a partners'
group would provide women an
opportunity to discuss their
partners' progress and develop
appropriate safety plans.
Renascence is co-facilitated by
Meryl Thomas, Janie Gattinger of
Huron Employee Assistance
Program and Cathy Graham of the
Huron Centre.
An evaluation of the effective
ness of Group Delta was conducted
in 1989. Results indicated that 55
per cent of Group Delta clients
refrain from further physical
violence against their partners for a
time period of up to two years.
Another 25 per cent report less
severe physical violence against
their partners. Ongoing evaluation
of the group is an important part of
its effectiveness.
Another important development
in the Huron-Perth Centre's
response to violence in society,
both physical and sexual, is the
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recent formation of a group therapy
program for adolescent male sexual
assault perpetrators. This treatment
group is scheduled to begin in
October 1992. Weekly group
sessions will be held for a period of
nine months. The focus of the
group is to stop sexually offending
behavior and it will use social,
educational and behavioural
approaches to reach this goal. The
group will be co-facilitated by
Dana Bozzato of the Huron Centre
and Chris Rowntree of the
Children’s Psychiatric Research
Institute, London.
The Huron-Perth Centres for
Children and Youth feel fortunate
to be part of Huron County's co
ordinated response to woman
abuse. Such co-ordination and
integration of services has been
facilitated by S.W.A.N., an active
co-ordinating committee whose
objective is to work toward the
reduction, prevention and eventual
elimination of all forms of woman
abuse. Group Delta, Renascence
and the Sexual Assault Treatment
Program are key components of
this community's response to
various forms of violence against
women and children.
If you would like more
information about these programs,
or would like to be a participant,
please call 482-3931.
Since children spend a
tremendous portion of their waking
hours with teachers in a co
operative educational setting,
educators become privy to personal
information that the children feel
confident in sharing. Educators,
therefore, play a vital role in
identifying child abuse. Since
educators also endeavour to teach
social skills that encourage non
violent behaviour, the following
“facts” will be emphasized when
the Huron County Board of
Education's teachers meet during
the Professional Development Day
on Friday, October 23, 1992.
FACTS ABOUT
FAMILY VIOLENCE
For some children school is the
ONLY safe place.
Children who witness violence
against their mothers suffer the
same problems as children who
were themselves abused.
Children raised in violent homes
often grow up to become victims or
abusers themselves.
150,000 to 250,000 school-aged
children in Ontario are exposed to
family violence in their homes.
Violence in the family is the
Women attend Toronto rally
The cool, damp weather on
Tuesday, Sept. 29 didn't damage
the spirits of approximately 90
ladies (and three gentlemen) from
the Maitland Presbyterial as they
set out on their bus trip to Toronto
for the fall rally.
While on the bus, Wilma Clarke
introduced one of the studies
available for next year entitled
Churches on Solidarity with
Women. The other study is on the
Middle East and was presented by
Margaret Underwood.
Since one of the studies this year
has been Japan, the ultimate
destination of the trip was the
Japanese Cultural Centre, where
everyone enjoyed a Japanese meal,
and some of the more adventurous
leading cause of homicides.
A man who abuses his partner may
also abuse his children.
Children may be accidentally hurt
when trying to protect another
family member from violence.
attempted to eat with the chopsticks
provided. There was coffee for
those not impressed with the
popcorn tea.
Following the meal there were
demonstrations of the Japanese tea
ceremony. Flower arranging,
origami which is the art of paper
folding, a description of the
kimono and 12 foot obi sash and
zori sandals. The last presentation
was Japanese dancing, very
graceful and beautiful in their
kimonos. Mildred Dickson thanked
the Japanese Cultural Centre for
their hospitality.
Just down the road was the
Presbyterian Church offices where
everyone had an opportunity to see
what goes on behind the scenes.