Take initiative on preventing domestic violence, sexual assaults

By Clayton Parks

A wise person once told me that the way a man treats women is what he is teaching his children. As a parent, I have taken these words to heart as I strive to teach my own son and daughter, through my behavior, to treat others with respect - and to expect and accept nothing less than respectful behavior from others. Sadly, our society is full of examples of people who fail to treat others, especially women, with respect.

Each April, we work to raise awareness of this during National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Last year, Waypoint Services for Women and Children responded to 1,856 crisis line calls from domestic violence and sexual assault victims and provided counseling, advocacy and support to 1,101 victims. Many come to Waypoint seeking a safe place to stay, as well as services and support.

But we know that, ultimately, the horrific problem of domestic violence and sexual assault will be addressed only by changing cultural norms and attitudes regarding male violence toward women. With this goal in mind, during the past year, Waypoint also provided education and prevention training focused on sexual violence, domestic abuse and healthy relationships to more than 4,400 students and community members throughout Linn, Jones and Benton counties.

This year, Waypoint is spearheading a significant new community-based initiative called MORE - Men Organizing for Relationship Equality - under the leadership of Waypoint specialist Michael Shaw. Through this project, five carefully selected and trained male mentors will identify and work with a group of 16- to 18-year-old young men representing a variety of schools and groups.

MORE will employ the tools and processes used in a successful national program, Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP), initially created to train male college and high school athletes and other student leaders to use their status to speak out against rape, battering, sexual harassment, gay-bashing and other forms of abuse and violence.

This spring, a group of 10 young men will participate in the first MORE program co-facilitated by Waypoint and community mentors. Our aim will be to help these young men learn how to intervene safely to help change the culture of violence in their schools and among their friends.

Waypoint also will be hosting several events during April with the objective of surrounding survivors of sexual violence with support and galvanizing our community's fight against abusive behavior. Visit www.waypointser

vices.org for information on participating.

For other information or support, call Waypoint's 24/7 Crisis and Support Line at (319) 363-2093 or 1-(800) 208-0388.

Clayton Parks is president, board of directors, Waypoint Services for Women and Children in Cedar Rapids.