COLUMBIA, SC - Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands knows that it is possible to end violence in our community and take SC out of the top ranks for women killed by men. In recognition of STSM's Youth Violence Prevention Curriculum© and vision for ending violence, the Cheerful Giver made a $10,000 investment in the program.
The Youth Violence Prevention Curriculum© is a primary prevention, practice-based approach to ending violence. This curriculum helps young people to build communication, boundary setting, conflict resolution, and other relationship skills that prepare them to have healthy friend and dating relationships. Youth learn to safely intervene to prevent interpersonal violence much in the way that the stop smoking campaign helped to dramatically reduce the number of smokers.
Years of research and advocacy have established that these topics must be addressed in schools and other community settings, in addition to the home, to effectively stop the cycle of violence. Each year, more than 3,500 local children receive the Youth Violence Prevention Curriculum©. In addition to implementation by STSM staff, a facilitator training model is available to the community so that local educators, guidance counselors, and youth workers can implement the YVP curriculum.
STSM Executive Director Mary Dell Hayes said, "There is nothing more powerful we can do to break the cycle of violence than to make sure all children receive violence prevention education from educators who are trained to recognize and respond to trauma. This investment from The Cheerful Giver is a recognition of the importance and value this transformative program offers. We hope all community members will take action by making a donation of $10 or more to sponsor a local teen to complete the Youth Violence Prevention Curriculum and encouraging local schools, churches, and community organizations to offer this program."
For more information about Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands and the Youth Violence Prevention Curriculum, please contact Kayce Singletary, Community Education Director, at (ced@stsm.org / 803-790-8208), or visit STSM's website (http://www.stsm.org). For more information about Central Carolina Community Foundation, please contact Cherise Arrendale at (cherise@yourfoundation.org / 803-254-5601), or visit CCCF's website (http://www.yourfoundation.org).
Media inquiries should be directed to Layla Ferjani, STSM's marketing coordinator, at (803) 790-8208 or marketing@stsm.org.
###
About Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands
Sexual Trauma Services is a 501(c)3 private, nonprofit, United Way community partner, headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina. Formerly named Rape Crisis Network, Sexual Trauma Services serves Richland, Lexington, Newberry, Sumter, and Clarendon Counties. Sexual Trauma Services is committed to providing free support to survivors of sexual assault and abuse, including a 24-hour crisis hotline, hospital accompaniment, court accompaniment, personal advocacy, and individual and group counseling. In addition, Sexual Trauma Services works to educate the community to identify and prevent sexual violence. For more information or to donate online: www.stsm.org.
SCBIZtv is part of the SC Biz News family, serving 100,000 high-level business execs throughout South Carolina.
Click for more from SCBIZtv.
