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Laura’s House to host 4th Annual Candlelight Vigil for Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month

Laura’s House to host 4th Annual Candlelight Vigil for Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month

Posted on December 10, 2013

Vigil 1 — On Friday, Feb. 7, more than 250 people are expected to gather at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Regional Training Center in Tustin to honor Jacque Villagomez and all victims of teen dating abuse

LADERA RANCH, Calif., Dec. 10, 2013 – To bring local focus to Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, held annually during the month of February, Laura’s House will host its 4^th Annual Candlelight Vigil in honor of Jacque Villagomez, a graduate of El Toro High School in Lake Forest, who died at the hands of her abuser in September 2008, and all those whose lives have been cut short as a result of teen dating abuse. More than 250 attendees are expected to gather for the event that will take place on Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Regional Training Center, located at 15991 Armstrong Avenue in Tustin, Calif.

“Today, one in four high school students are affected by dating abuse,” said Marissa Presley, Bilingual Prevention Education Specialist, Laura’s House. “This number is much too high, and sadly many parents, teachers and even friends of the abuse victims don’t even know it is happening. With the prevention and education programs we offer through Laura’s House, as well as our annual Candlelight Vigil that remembers the victims while celebrating those who have survived teen dating abuse, our goal is to get people talking and thinking about this important issue, and to also develop strategies for reducing dating violence fatalities.”

The 4^th Annual Candlelight Vigil will feature art, music and tributes to those whose lives have been impacted by teen dating abuse, both here in Southern California and across the nation. Guest speakers will include Dr. Jill Murray, a nationally-recognized expert on dating abuse and author of But He Never Hit Me: The Devastating Cost of Non-Physical Abuse to Girls and Women (iUniverse, 2007) and But I Love Him: Protecting Your Teen Daughter from Controlling, Abusive Dating Relationships (Harper Perennial, 2001). Kayla, a survivor of adolescent dating abuse will also share her testimony on how it has affected her life.

During the 4^th Annual Candlelight Vigil, Laura’s House will also recognize Girl Scouts of Orange County with an Award of Recognition for their efforts to shine a light on teen dating abuse. In 2012, Girl Scouts of Orange County Troop 2411 was awarded the Distinguished Service Award for hosting a Healthy Relationships workshop co-sponsored by Laura’s House, and each year, several troops volunteer for the Candlelight Vigil, facilitating the flag salute as part of their community service projects.

Laura’s House will also be presenting Sharon Spiers, Health Education Teacher and San Juan Hills High School’s 2012“Teacher of the Year,” with the “Teachers Together to End Dating Abuse” award. Since 2008, Ms. Spiers has invited Laura’s House to San Juan Hills High School to present its Healthy Emotions and Attitudes in Relationships (H.E.A.R.T.) program to its students. “We are grateful to Sharon and San Juan Hills High School for providing us with an opportunity to educate their students on healthy relationships,” continued Presley. “She is a shining example of what educators can do to help ensure that students are aware of dating abuse, and have the appropriate coping and conflict resolution skills to deal with it, before it is too late.”

During the 4^th Annual Candlelight Vigil, Laura’s House will provide attendees with the opportunity to “take a stand” against dating abuse, by signing dating abuse “pledge cards.” In January 2013, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department began distributing these cards as part of the “Is Your Teen At Risk” program.

“We would like to thank Rancho Santiago Community College and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for partnering with Laura’s House in the education and prevention of teen dating violence here in our community, and excited to have them as part of our program again this year,” continued Presley. “We are especially grateful to the college, for permitting us to hold the vigil at the Regional Training Center in Tustin.”

The public is encouraged to attend the Candlelight Vigil, particularly families with teens and pre-teens, who are interested in learning more about how to prevent dating violence. Members of several H.E.A.R.T. clubs that have been established at local high schools will be selling purple ribbons and hosting bake sales to raise funds to support the Laura’s House H.E.A.R.T. program. Laura’s House will also have information and resources available for teens and their families that are interested in learning more about dating abuse and the H.E.A.R.T. program.

Annually, Laura’s House provides the H.E.A.R.T. program to more than 3,000 Orange County teens at local middle schools, high schools, junior colleges and other youth facilities. The program helps teens become educated on healthy relationships and appropriate conflict resolution skills. Laura's House also has a website designed to assist teens who are seeking information on healthy relationships.

The Laura’s House Teen Website, which was made possible by funding from a Verizon Wireless HopeLine® grant, can be viewed at www.laurashouse.org/lhteen. The colorful and dynamic site offers a number of interactive features designed to reach today’s tech-savvy teen populations. These features include digital postcards that address dating abuse and provide tips and encouragement to teens that find themselves in an abusive relationship; online pledge cards that enable teens to take a “virtual” stand against dating abuse; a quiz feature that lets teens assess whether they are being abused by their dating partner, or if they are the abuser; music, news and current events; podcasts, and other informative resources that can help teens become educated about dating abuse.

Schools and organizations that are interested in learning more about the H.E.A.R.T. program, or would like to schedule a presentation should contact Marissa Presley at mpresley@laurashouse.org.

More information on the programs and services offered by Laura’s House is available at www.laurashouse.org or by calling the Counseling and Resource Center at (949) 361-3775. Victims of domestic abuse can get immediate help by calling the Laura’s House 24-hour hotline at 949-498-1511 or toll-free at 866-498-1511.

About Laura’s House

For nearly two decades, Laura’s House has provided residential shelter and support services to nearly 3,500 families, and counseling, life skills education and legal assistance to over 40,000 individuals. The mission of Laura’s House is to change the social beliefs, attitudes and the behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse.

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Vigil 2 — On Friday, Feb. 7, more than 250 people are expected to gather at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Regional Training Center in Tustin to honor Jacque Villagomez and all victims of teen dating abuse

LADERA RANCH, Calif., Dec. 10, 2013 – To bring local focus to Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, held annually during the month of February, Laura’s House will host its 4^th Annual Candlelight Vigil in honor of Jacque Villagomez, a graduate of El Toro High School in Lake Forest, who died at the hands of her abuser in September 2008, and all those whose lives have been cut short as a result of teen dating abuse. More than 250 attendees are expected to gather for the event that will take place on Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Regional Training Center, located at 15991 Armstrong Avenue in Tustin, Calif.

“Today, one in four high school students are affected by dating abuse,” said Marissa Presley, Bilingual Prevention Education Specialist, Laura’s House. “This number is much too high, and sadly many parents, teachers and even friends of the abuse victims don’t even know it is happening. With the prevention and education programs we offer through Laura’s House, as well as our annual Candlelight Vigil that remembers the victims while celebrating those who have survived teen dating abuse, our goal is to get people talking and thinking about this important issue, and to also develop strategies for reducing dating violence fatalities.”

The 4^th Annual Candlelight Vigil will feature art, music and tributes to those whose lives have been impacted by teen dating abuse, both here in Southern California and across the nation. Guest speakers will include Dr. Jill Murray, a nationally-recognized expert on dating abuse and author of But He Never Hit Me: The Devastating Cost of Non-Physical Abuse to Girls and Women (iUniverse, 2007) and But I Love Him: Protecting Your Teen Daughter from Controlling, Abusive Dating Relationships (Harper Perennial, 2001). Kayla, a survivor of adolescent dating abuse will also share her testimony on how it has affected her life.

During the 4^th Annual Candlelight Vigil, Laura’s House will also recognize Girl Scouts of Orange County with an Award of Recognition for their efforts to shine a light on teen dating abuse. In 2012, Girl Scouts of Orange County Troop 2411 was awarded the Distinguished Service Award for hosting a Healthy Relationships workshop co-sponsored by Laura’s House, and each year, several troops volunteer for the Candlelight Vigil, facilitating the flag salute as part of their community service projects.

Laura’s House will also be presenting Sharon Spiers, Health Education Teacher and San Juan Hills High School’s 2012“Teacher of the Year,” with the “Teachers Together to End Dating Abuse” award. Since 2008, Ms. Spiers has invited Laura’s House to San Juan Hills High School to present its Healthy Emotions and Attitudes in Relationships (H.E.A.R.T.) program to its students. “We are grateful to Sharon and San Juan Hills High School for providing us with an opportunity to educate their students on healthy relationships,” continued Presley. “She is a shining example of what educators can do to help ensure that students are aware of dating abuse, and have the appropriate coping and conflict resolution skills to deal with it, before it is too late.”

During the 4^th Annual Candlelight Vigil, Laura’s House will provide attendees with the opportunity to “take a stand” against dating abuse, by signing dating abuse “pledge cards.” In January 2013, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department began distributing these cards as part of the “Is Your Teen At Risk” program.

“We would like to thank Rancho Santiago Community College and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for partnering with Laura’s House in the education and prevention of teen dating violence here in our community, and excited to have them as part of our program again this year,” continued Presley. “We are especially grateful to the college, for permitting us to hold the vigil at the Regional Training Center in Tustin.”

The public is encouraged to attend the Candlelight Vigil, particularly families with teens and pre-teens, who are interested in learning more about how to prevent dating violence. Members of several H.E.A.R.T. clubs that have been established at local high schools will be selling purple ribbons and hosting bake sales to raise funds to support the Laura’s House H.E.A.R.T. program. Laura’s House will also have information and resources available for teens and their families that are interested in learning more about dating abuse and the H.E.A.R.T. program.

Annually, Laura’s House provides the H.E.A.R.T. program to more than 3,000 Orange County teens at local middle schools, high schools, junior colleges and other youth facilities. The program helps teens become educated on healthy relationships and appropriate conflict resolution skills. Laura's House also has a website designed to assist teens who are seeking information on healthy relationships.

The Laura’s House Teen Website, which was made possible by funding from a Verizon Wireless HopeLine® grant, can be viewed at www.laurashouse.org/lhteen. The colorful and dynamic site offers a number of interactive features designed to reach today’s tech-savvy teen populations. These features include digital postcards that address dating abuse and provide tips and encouragement to teens that find themselves in an abusive relationship; online pledge cards that enable teens to take a “virtual” stand against dating abuse; a quiz feature that lets teens assess whether they are being abused by their dating partner, or if they are the abuser; music, news and current events; podcasts, and other informative resources that can help teens become educated about dating abuse.

Schools and organizations that are interested in learning more about the H.E.A.R.T. program, or would like to schedule a presentation should contact Marissa Presley at mpresley@laurashouse.org.

More information on the programs and services offered by Laura’s House is available at www.laurashouse.org or by calling the Counseling and Resource Center at (949) 361-3775. Victims of domestic abuse can get immediate help by calling the Laura’s House 24-hour hotline at 949-498-1511 or toll-free at 866-498-1511.

About Laura’s House

For nearly two decades, Laura’s House has provided residential shelter and support services to nearly 3,500 families, and counseling, life skills education and legal assistance to over 40,000 individuals. The mission of Laura’s House is to change the social beliefs, attitudes and the behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse.

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