Press Releases
Press Releases
Youth Health Service, Inc.971 Harrison Ave.Elkins, WV 26241For Immediate Release:Contact: Peggy Johnson 304-636-9450 yhspeggy_yahoo.comLOCAL PROGRAMS JOINING FORCES TO TREAT IMPACT OF VIOLENCEYouth Health Service, Inc. (YHS) was awarded federal funding in 2010 through the Office of Violence Against Women, US Dept of Justice, to address the treatment needs of teens and young adults through age 24 years who have experienced violence in their dating and marital relationships, sexual assault, and stalking. This funding provides YHS the opportunity to expand its already existing trauma services and treatment through its Strength Builders Child and Adolescent Trauma Center. The YHS trauma center officially opened in 2005 after YHS became part of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, a national organization whose mission is to increase access to care and improve the quality of treatment for children and teens who have experienced traumatic events such as abuse and neglect, injuries and illnesses, car accidents, death of a parent or sibling, etc.This expansion endeavor, called the FOCUS Project, offers YHS the opportunity to work with other local programs who seek to prevent, identify, treat, and advocate for young people who are currently experiencing or have experienced in the past issues with dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. These issues have become so common that it is estimated that 1 in 3 young people will experience abuse in a dating or marital relationship and that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys experience sexual assault or abuse by their 18th birthday. Without the proper support and intervention, young victims find it extremely difficult to change abusive patterns as they move into adulthood. That is why Womens Aid in Crisis (WAIC), the Davis and Elkins College Counseling and Wellness Center, the Health and Counseling Center at West Virginia Wesleyan College, and the Alderson-Broaddus College Counseling Services have joined with Youth Health Service to improve the identification and treatment of young people having these violent experiences. WAIC, a non-profit, private corporation, has been providing services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in this area of the state since it began in 1979. In addition to their 31 years experience in providing these services to the target communities, WAIC is a member of the WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence and is a member of the WV Foundation for Rape Information and Services. In the FOCUS project, WAIC is providing needed advocacy services to young people who are victims of violent relationships.All of the college campuses are devoting their efforts at educating their students about safety and making sure steps are taken to make campus life as safe as possible. Many of the colleges already team up with WAIC to provide an introductory prevention program for new freshman that promotes safe and healthy decision making.Through the FOCUS Project, YHS, WAIC, and all the college counseling directors have been able to meet to share ideas and resources and support efforts being made to ensure student safety. In June, YHS hosted a training on Seeking Safety, an intervention that is a nationally recognized evidence-based therapy for teens and adults who have experienced trauma or substance abuse or a combination of both. This treatment can be provided individually or in groups to relieve stress and improve coping and functioning. The training was well attended by nearly 50 counselors, psychologists, and mental health professionals in this area.If you or someone you know has experienced relationships violence, sexual assault, or stalking or to find out more about treatment and resources available through the FOCUS Project, contact Peggy Johnson at YHS at 304.636.9450 or www.youth-health.org. If you are a college student, you may also contact Susie Mullens at Davis and Elkins College at 304.637.1203, Chad Hostetler at Alderson-Broaddus College at 304.457.6320, or Mike Kuba at WV Wesleyan College at 304.473.8100.
Row 1- Mike Kuba- WV Wesleyan, Chad Hostetler- AB College, Jessica Eddy- WAIC
Row 2: Heather Fowler- WAIC, Billie Jean Hunt- WAIC, Peggy Johnson- Youth Health Service, Susie Mullens- D&E College
