Education

Cycle of Violence

The theory of the Cycle of Violence was developed by Dr. Lenore Walker. It has three distinct phases which are generally present in violent relationships:

  1. Tension Building Phase
  2. Violent Episode Phase
  3. Remorseful/Honeymoon Phase

Outlined below are typical feelings and behaviors exhibited by family members in the various phases of the cycle of violence.

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Assertiveness Skills

Assertive behavior involves the ability to express your feelings, to choose your behavior in any given situation, to exercise your rights when it is appropriate without denying the rights of others, to disagree when it’s important to do so, and, if appropriate, to change your own behavior or ask others to change their abusive behavior.

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Awareness Skills

Awareness is the foundation of personal safety and self-defense and gives you a means of safely avoiding or escaping potentially dangerous situations; it replaces false confidence based on denial with true confidence based on fact.

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Symptoms of Child Abuse

Did you know that children from violent homes often display a variety of behavioral characteristics as a result of living in an unpredictable environment? Many of these characteristics are similar to those exhibited by children who have been abused in other ways.

Recent studies show that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 7 boys are sexually abused before they reach the age of 18 years, and that in homes where domestic violence is present, 50% of children living in those homes are abused physically and/or emotionally.

Read more: Symptoms of Child Abuse

 

Child Safety Tips

We teach children about fire safety, water safety, and how to cross the street. We can and should take advantage of these natural teaching moments to introduce personal safety tips in these general discussions.

Teach your children early, as early as age two, as even young children can understand the concepts related to sexual abuse. Children provided with accurate information at an early age can learn to avoid or stop sexual abuse. An unprepared child may be too confused or ashamed even to admit an assault has taken place.

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Basic and Co-Parenting Classes

The Women’s Center of San Joaquin County is pleased to announce that our long-awaited co-parenting curriculum is now in full swing and will be a part of our basic parenting program beginning August 4, 2009. We are also delighted that Jimmie Sasaki (retired SUSD Parent Involvement Program Specialist) will be joining us in this endeavor. Sasaki will be co-teaching specific classes throughout the course.

Read more: Basic and Co-Parenting Classes

 

Health Fairs

The Women's Center of San Joaquin County participates in a number of health fairs and community events throughout the year. This is a part of our ongoing Public Education and Community Outreach Programs. We provide staffed informational tables for churches, schools, medical facilities, local businesses and agencies, and community centers upon request. Anyone interested in having the Women's Center participate in an event may contact any of the three Women's Center business offices in Stockton, Lodi, or Tracy.