Words of Gratitude

“Bright Horizons staff members are a light to many women and children who are in very dark places. They shine and guide people to a way out for a better life. It is a long journey for some. Finding your way out of a dark tunnel and into the light, it takes time to focus and regain your equilibrium. When you first find your way out, you feel like a balloon that has been held under water for so long that you just burst out. Even though you’ve escaped the pressure, the freedom and the need to balance your life are overwhelming. Bright Horizons is there to help you steady your course. Find your true north as they say and keep you on a path to a healing that you arrive at within your own strength. As you rebuild your life, it looks different and picking up the pieces takes time and sometimes parts of your life are burnt beyond anything that you can reclaim. As you form new friendships and make new homes, you keep Bright Horizons staff members close in your life because they are counted among the very few people who never let you down. Their work is priceless. As individuals they are without measure and their life work matters to so many. I hope they are proud every day of what they have accomplished in the lives of others. Faith is the driving force to regaining your life. Bright Horizons reminds me of the words of Jesus, ‘to give up your life for your friend,’ is the highest thing you can do…they give life to so many. Thank you!”

Written by Angie

 

Teen Dating Violence Proclamation

 

BRAVO members with Mayor Bill Price signing a proclamation declaring that the City of O’Neill recognizes February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.  Pictured above from left to right bottom row: Stephanie Nemec, Hannah Janousek, Mayor Bill Price, Tasha Lechtenberg, Kasey HoffmanFrom left to right standing:  Liz Wallace, Desi Pinkerman, Elizabeth Price, Brandi Walters, Jean Zakrzewski, Sarah Pribil, Miranda Pribil

 

High School Students Take a Stand Against Bullying

BPG (Bully Prevention Group)  has been very busy throughout the year trying to accomplish our goal of preventing bullying around our high school. This group was started by four students who thought that bullying was a very big issue in the small town of O’Neill, NE. This year has been our most active year, and we hope that it will only keep growing. Our group has had meetings every Thursday to talk about the projects we are working on. We started our year off by hosting a kick- off event where we had some games for the Junior High School students to play that had an anti bullying message; some of the games included:  Toss Away Bullying and Don’t Break Your Trust.  After that we hosted a Mix-up Day where students grabbed a card and sat with the people who had a similar card; we believe that this helps students realize that they aren’t as different from each other as they think. We have also taken several surveys that prove that we are not the only ones who think that bullying is a problem in our school.  It’s also a giant problem all over the U.S.  For example according to Dan Olweus, National School Safety Center “American schools harbor approximately 2.1 million bullies and 2.7 million of their victims.” The National Safety Center also said “1 in 7 Students in Grades K-12 is either a bully or a victim of bullying.” Our group BPG wants to be in the other half of this equation.  We want our students to treat each other with respect and understand that in no circumstance is bullying okay. We refuse to have our school be part of these statistics.  BPG members have fun being in the group and enjoy making changes in our school and community. We hope that the group will stay as successful as can be so that kids themselves can control the bullying in our area.

Written by Maranda Winter, Junior at O’Neill High School

January is Stalking Awareness Month

January is National Stalking Awareness Month, a time to focus on a crime that affects 3.4 million victims a year. This year’s theme—“Stalking: Know It. Name It. Stop It.”—challenges the nation to fight this dangerous crime by learning more about it.

 

Stalking is a crime in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, yet many victims and criminal justice professionals underestimate its seriousness and impact. In one of five cases, stalkers use weapons to harm or threaten victims, and stalking is one of the significant risk factors for femicide (homicide of women) in abusive relationships.

 

Victims suffer anxiety, social dysfunction, and severe depression at much higher rates than the general population, and many lose time from work or have to move as a result of their victimization.

 

Stalking is difficult to recognize, investigate, and prosecute. Unlike other crimes, stalking is not a single, easily identifiable crime but a series of acts, a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause that person fear. Stalking may take many forms, such as assaults, threats, vandalism, burglary, or animal abuse, as well as unwanted cards, calls, gifts, or visits. One in four victims reports that the stalker uses technology, such as computers, global positioning system devices, or hidden cameras, to track the victim’s daily activities. Stalkers fit no standard psychological profile, and many stalkers follow their victims from one jurisdiction to another, making it difficult for authorities to investigate and prosecute their crimes.

If you believe you or someone you know is a victim of stalking; or if you have any questions about your situation, please call Bright Horizons toll free at 1-877-379-3798 to speak with an advocate.

Written by Sara

Bright Horizons Recieves $20,000 from Mary Kay Foundation

Mary Kay shelter grant program to help many of the 61,000 domestic violence survivors assisted each day in the United States

 

Bright Horizons has been chosen to receive a $20,000 grant from The Mary Kay Foundation as part of the organization’s annual $3 million national domestic violence grant program.  Bright Horizons is one of 150 domestic violence organizations participating in the program.  The grant will be used to make some necessary safety and security updates at shelter.

“This grant is such a blessing to Bright Horizons in a variety of ways,” said Linda Olson, Executive Director.  “Not only does it make up for a deficit in funding this year but also gives us hope and strength to continue what we do.  Domestic violence is not going away and deserves very serious attention.  Programs to help battered women and their children require a lot of resources.  That’s why we are so thankful The Mary Kay Foundation is helping us help families in northeastern Nebraska.”

Domestic Violence Outlook

According to the second “Mary Kay Truth About Abuse” national survey conducted in March 2011, domestic violence shelters indicate the economic downturn has increased demand for services.  Shelters also report, the ability to raise funds and provide services will be hampered into 2012.  Due to the economy, the survey also revealed:

• 80 percent of domestic violence shelters nationwide (more than three out of four) report and increase in women seeking assistance from abuse, and most attribute this to financial issues.
• 76 percent of domestic violence shelters (three out of four) indicate their funding has decreased.
• 65 percent of women in shelters can’t find employment due to the economy.
• 56 percent of shelters note the abuse is more violent now than before the economic downturn.

 

“In light of the economic downturn and alarming increases in domestic violence, The Mary Kay Foundation’s mission is more critical than ever before.  Bright Horizons has helped so many women and their families in the northeastern Nebraska area.  We know they will use these funds to benefit even more domestic violence survivors and their children and help end domestic violence,” said Jennifer Cook, The Mary Kay Foundation board member.
About Bright Horizons

Bright Horizons serves victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking and their families.  All of their services are free and confidential and available 24-hours a day 7 days a week.  Bright Horizons serves Antelope, Boyd, Holt, Knox, Madison, Pierce, and Stanton counties.  They have an office and shelter in both Norfolk and O’Neill.   They provide individual advocacy, support group for adults and children, shelter, assistance with protection orders and criminal justice and legal advocacy.  They also provide education in the community on these issues.

 

About The Mary Kay Foundation

The Mary Kay Foundation was created in 1996, and its mission is two-fold: to fund research of cancers affecting women and to help prevent domestic violence while raising awareness of the issue.  Since the Foundation’s inception, it has awarded $28 million to shelters and programs addressing domestic violence prevention and more than $16 million to cancer researchers and related causes throughout the United States.  To learn more about The Mary Kay Foundation, log on to www.marykayfoundation.org or call 1-877-MKCARES (652-2737).