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“Steven had a deep love for children and was very involved in his nieces and nephews lives,” states Steven’s mother, Donna Hauck. “It is a wonderful way to honor Steven’s service and his love for children.” The Steven Hauck Memorial Fund was established to provide children the opportunity to buy school pictures, pay for sports programs, and participate in other activities. “Through the partnership between the Soroptomist International of Nevada City and DVSAC, we are able to continue to offer resources for building healthy relationships and for healing the effects of violence in children’s lives. We are so thankful for this community group and the work they do.” says, DVSAC Executive Director, Niko Johnson. “After talking with Steven’s family and learning about the positive impact he had on children’s lives, we are honored to be a part of continuing his legacy.” If you would like to make a contribution to the fund or get more information, contact DVSAC at (530) 272-2046.

Pictured from Left to Right:
Joe Hauck, Niko Johnson, Donna Hauck, and Cheryl (Hauck) Thompson

Thank you for your support of community organizations like DVSAC.

Join other sexual assault survivors in a three part art and processing group using art as a healing tool.

“Take a Walk in My Shoes” is an artistic celebration of healing, honoring Survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Using art as a healing tool to aid the transition from Victim to Survivor, decorated shoes will be displayed in April representing each survivor’s journey. (Entries can be anonymous.)

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition is sponsoring this show to bring awareness  about the prevalence of sexual assault,  its effects on individuals and our community. We are currently looking for sexual assault survivors who are interested in creating art pieces for this project. Please call DVSAC if you are interested in attending the workshops.

An art reception and celebration will be held April 19th, 6:00-8:00pm

Please RSVP at 272-2046

Ask questions and discuss teen dating issues with a panel of professionals and other parents from our community.

Panel includes: Therapists, members from Nevada Union Staff, Grass Valley Police Department, DVSAC and more.

Refreshments will be served.
For more info, call our office (530) 272-2046

www.teendvmonth.org

If you are interested in participating as a volunteer on our crisis line or entering the field of crisis counseling, this class is for you.  You can learn valuable communication skills, recognize signs of domestic violence and sexual assault and how to stop the cycle of violence.

Sessions include speakers from:
Family Court
Child Protective Services
Adult Protective Services
Law Enforcement
District Attorney’s Office
Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)
Victim Witness Center
Child Advocates of Nevada County
Sierra Nevada Children’s Services
REACH Family Counseling
FREED
And more…

Call us now, as space is limited.

Please contact Sheri Meckler at
530-272-2046  or sheri@dvsac.org

Orientation will be held on March 20, 2012
6-7:30pm at the DVSAC office:
960 McCourtney Rd, Suite #E, Grass Valley

Classes will be held Tuesday and Thursday nights 6-9pm

Cost is $35 for educational materials.
Training satisfies the required training mandated by the state
to work with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

a benefit for dvsac - tuesday, february 14th - 7:30-9:30pm / $10

poems of love and eros with
molly fiske
steve sanfield
william o‘daly
pablo neruda
chris harbour
& marilyn souza

poems erotica with
lytton bell
cynthia linville
jen jenkins
& shawn aveningo

admission includes a cup of coffee and a slice of valentine cake -
beer, wine, homemade pizza, & coffee drinks available for purchase

At Sierra Mountain Coffee Roasters Summit Space- 671 Maltman Drive, Grass Valley
477-JAVA * www.sierramtncoffee.com 

Teen Dating Stories

In honor of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, DVSAC and The Peer Advocates for Health Club are collecting anonymous and true stories told by teens about their experiences in relationships. If you have a story we would love to hear from you. We want your stories about relationships- healthy, unhealthy, abusive and in between. 1 in 3 teens experience abuse in a dating relationship. Your stories will help others who have had similar experiences know that they are not alone. Please fill out this form to be put on our website and in other local publications. Thank you for SPEAKING OUT!

• Write Your Story Here*
• Captcha

Last week our elected District Attorney Cliff Newell wondered why our elected Judge Candace Heidelberger sentenced this predator to a just year in the county jail and probation instead of the six years in prison he could have gotten. I point out that they are elected to remind you that if you don’t like what they are doing you have the power to “un-elect” them.

In a strongly worded and graphic press release, Newell vented his frustration that has probably been building from what he has perceived as a pattern of liberal and inconsistent local court decisions.

In his press release, Newell pointed out that the sexual abuse began when the victim was just 13 years old. “It started with the defendant touching the victim’s breasts and progressed to oral copulation and digital penetration of the child,” he wrote. “Later he taught (the victim) how to masturbate him until he ejaculated. The last incident of abuse was when she was 14 years old and about to start high school.”

Investigators also found child porn on the defendant’s computer and some of it reportedly included baby rape.

I know. It’s pretty tough to read. Imagine how tough it was to endure for a young girl who should have instead been reading a good book, maybe listening to music, or basically enjoying a normal teenage life.

In her closing arguments, prosecutor Kathryn Francis tried to convince the judge that the defendant deserved to go to prison. “If a self-admitted child molester doesn’t go to prison in this county, who does?”

Bingo. I can answer that one. I know a few pot growers serving prison time. I also know of a few white-collar crooks who are serving time for stealing money from grownups. You could make a pretty good argument that if pot growers and embezzlers belong in prison, a child molester ought to certainly be higher on the food chain. Ask any inmate how he might rank them.

In fact, it wasn’t too long ago people were screaming for a young man to go to prison for killing an opossum.

In its quest to preserve so-called “sexual freedoms,” has society come to view the sexual assault of a child as an acceptable casualty?

Last time I checked, Nevada County was home to 124 registered sex offenders, most of them convicted of sexual assaults on children 14 and younger (if you want to see the list, go to www.meganslaw.com). It could be they’ve decided that Nevada County is a pretty good place to be, based on this and other court decisions.

Just a couple of days after that decision, a 64-year-old man was also sentenced to probation (and “time served” for the 16 months he spent in county jail) after pleading no contest to molesting a young girl for several years, beginning when she was under 10 years old.

Elected Judge Tom Anderson could have sentenced him to 16 years in prison, but the victim and her family asked the court for leniency and the defendant said he was sorry, which is something you say when you bump into someone at a supermarket, but really sounds lame after sexually assaulting a little girl over several years.

“Sorry I screwed up your life.”

“Sorry I stole your childhood.”

“Sorry I gave you nightmares.”

“Sorry I violated your trust.”

“Sorry you’re at therapy instead playing in the school yard.”

“You probably deserve state prison,” Anderson told the predator. “This is a very generous sentence. But this sentence is not for you, this is for those around you.”

In referring to “those around you” the judge was likely not referring to the other young girls who may also be suffering abuse and afraid to speak up, or to the predators who may be wondering what might happen if they get caught. Or to the 124 registered sex offenders who call Nevada County home.

Agencies responsible for protecting our children also wonder what kind of message the sentences send. “Our perspective is that there needs to be a stronger message sent to people who are sexually abusing our children,” said Niko Johnson of the Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault Coalition. “There needs to be stronger consequences for those who are going to perpetuate these crimes.”

The system seems to spend more energy trying to protect the names of the victims than it does making sure the sexual deviate doesn’t claim another. It also seems to be distinguishing between an assault by a family member and an assault by a stranger, as if it’s not as bad if you know and trust the assailant. I’d say it’s even more sickening.

By the looks of it, Sacramento has had its fill of monsters. Last week a pastor was found guilty of molesting four little girls and faces 165 years to life in prison, or roughly 40 years per little girl. One juror told the Sacramento Bee, “What’s going on here? You gotta be some type of — I don’t want to say monster — but you’re not a cool person. Young girls, 5, 6, 7 and 8-and-a-half? That’s pretty bad.”

Yes it is. And it makes you wonder why it seems to be getting worse.

Thank you to all who attended and to those who helped make the night a great success.  We are still receiving so many positive comments about how much the girls looked forward to the evening and how fun it was for both dads and daughters.  Especially heartwarming are comments such as “This event has created such special memories for my daughters and I, thank you.” and “We had so much fun together!  We can’t wait until next year!” The purpose of the dance is to promote healthy relationships in our community and you are a part of that.  Thank you.

If you are not familiar with DVSAC, our mission is to offer resources for healthy relationships and work with community partners for healing the effects of interpersonal violence.  This dance was able to raise significant amounts of funds to support the mission of the organization and the work toward peace and justice in our community.  Thank you for partnering with us in this way.  If you desire and are able to further your contribution to the efforts to help those impacted by these issues and the prevention of violence, please click on the “Donate Now” button.  All gifts are tax-deductible and stay here in Western Nevada County.  Thank you.

Lastly, if you and your daughter were a guest and had pictures taken and do not have your print, we have it in our office.  Please contact us (info@dvsac.org or 530-272-2046) and we can make arrangements to get them to you, or stop by (DVSAC at 960 McCourtney Rd Suite E by the Fairgrounds) to pick them up.  We appreciate your patience, as we had a new innovative photography system this year that we hope to streamline for next year. Candid pictures were also taken at the dance and have been uploaded to an album on our Facebook page.

Thank you again for making The DVSAC 5^th Annual Daddy Daughter Dance such a memorable event.  We hope to see you next year!

This event was made possible by:

The Union, STAR 94/KNCO,
Placer Title Company, Coldwell Banker, Caseywood Corp,
B & C True Value, Keep It Self Storage, Scinto Graziano LLP
Jay Patt Chiropractic