Results Statement: People across the lifespan are free from violence and its effects in their relationships.

Consistently, our needs assessments tell us that the community of Carroll County is generally a very safe place to live, work, and play. Nevertheless, any level of violence is disruptive and unacceptable.

Interpersonal violence includes homicide, physical abuse or neglect, sexual abuse, rape or attempted rape, physical assault, and verbal or physical threats. Research indicates that many types of interpersonal violence go underreported, especially sexual assault and domestic violence.

Partnership Staff Contact:
Lexi Schafer
410-871-7648
LSchafer@carrollhospitalcenter.org

Interpersonal Violence Leadership Team

A local Domestic Violence Coordinating Council affiliated with Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland has been established to monitor trends and coordinate actions addressing interpersonal violence. It serves as The Partnership’s Leadership Team for this Core Health Improvement Area. The benefits of this arrangement are efficiency and the assurance of connectivity and consistency with state and national benchmarks. 

Over the years, the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council has organized several successful educational conferences focusing on issues such as elder abuse, date rape, child neglect, and family law. More recently, members of the DVCC are working to produce an educational DVD for front-line professionals and victim’s advocates about protective order and peace orders.

Clothesline Project Team

The Clothesline Project is an exhibit of t-shirts representing different types of violence, with messages drawn on them by Carroll County victims of verbal, sexual or physical abuse or violence. The purpose is to increase awareness, celebrate survival, provide an avenue for victims to heal, and to courageously break the silence that often surrounds interpersonal violence and abuse. Interpersonal violence occurs in at least seven different forms, each differentiated by shirt color:

White – for people who have died of violence
Yellow – for people who have been battered or assaulted
Red – for adults who have been sexually assaulted
Blue – for people who are survivors of incest/child sexual assault
Purple – for people attacked because of their sexual orientation
Orange – for people who have been bullied
Green – for people attacked because of their race or religion

The shirts, accompanied by startling local statistics, hang in silent acknowledgement of the reality of violence. The Clothesline Project© was developed as a community health improvement project in 2004 by The Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County, Inc. The phenomenal growth in size and scope of the shirt collection has led to an innovative, shared operating model between The Partnership and two local community partners: Family and Children’s Services and Rape Crisis Intervention Service, Inc., who use the shirts in many advocacy efforts.

South Carroll Diversity Roundtable

Mission: To promote cross-cultural awareness and reduce incidences of racial, ethnic, or religious violence.

The South Carroll Diversity Roundtable was formed in 2004 in response to racial and religious vandalism in the South Carroll area. Utilizing a pro-active approach, we are striving to inform, stimulate concern and promote positive South Carroll community activities in order to eliminate discriminatory behavior. In 2005-2006, we conducted community presentations and events, organized a school poster contest and supported youth-led efforts to hold a wonderfully successful Unity Day at South Carroll High School.

Since then, this action team continues to focus awareness on racial issues and has teamed with the Carroll Citizens for Racial Equality to include all of Carroll County in the dissemination of information.

Talk to your family, your friends, and others in the community about the importance of diversity in Carroll County.
Intolerance only exists when concerned people fail to stand up and say it is unacceptable.

Protective / Peace Order Team

This Action Team was formed as an offshoot from the 2008 workgroup training, which revealed a need to clarify the differences between protective orders and peace orders for front-line professionals and clergy.

To reach the goal of increasing the percentage of peace and protective orders granted, this Team decided to develop an educational presentation explaining both types of order. In the presentation, local professionals will speak to the topic of their expertise and take parts in role playing to illustrate topics in interpersonal violence.

Topics to be covered include:

• Finding a Counselor
• The Facts of Domestic Violence
• Animal Abuse/Victim intimidation using animals
• Battering
• Sexual Assault
• Why Victims Stay in an Abusive Relationship
• What Violence Teaches to Children & Teens
• Where and How to Receive Help
• The Differences between Protective Orders and Peace Orders, and the Steps Involved in Each
• Medical Information
• Law Enforcement Information
• How Friends and Family Can Help
• Victim’s Bill of Rights

The targeted audience includes Carroll Hospital Center staff; SAFE nurses and physicians; Local Management Board members; Behavioral Health and Addiction Committee members; schools; family centers; new judges, as part of their orientation; and clergy and other members of the faith community.

Links

Child Help USA - Treatment and Prevention of Child Abuse
Directory of Community Services for Carroll County
Family and Children’s Services of Central Maryland
Get Connected Family Resource Center
Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
National Clothesline Project
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Rape Crisis Intervention Service
SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere)