Stop Abuse For Everyone

The family is often considered to be the foundation of society. When parents treat each other with respect and dignity and provide their children with safety, healthy structure, value, and personal care, that foundation allows the next generation to thrive and reach their potential in life. When parents verbally, emotionally, and physically abuse each other or their children they rob the family of peace and safety. It puts children at greater risk for developmental and emotional problems that often stay with them into adulthood.

The SAFE Foundation was created to address the problems of family abuse and violence for all of its members, regardless of gender. Through resource information, education, and new research efforts SAFE hopes to increase the awareness that family abuse is no joke and that it requires a greater openness for all the victims of family abuse whether they are men, women, or children.

The following is a list of expert speakers and professionals in the field of family violence that embrace the vision and mission of SAFE. They challenge the listener to consider areas that are often ignored or minimized in the field of family violence and offer practical suggestions to help communities better address the problems that families experience when the lack the skills to communicate without violence and parent without abuse. The speakers have been listed in alphabetical order by name with contact information provided for each of them.

The Vision of SAFE is to end abuse in families in order to provide safety, mutual respect, and psychological well being for children and adults regardless of gender, and to increase awareness of how domestic violence negatively affects families and individuals in the community at large.

The Mission of SAFE is to set up SAFE chapters for men, women and children who have been abused by an intimate partner, caregiver, or family member. SAFE provides community resource information, educates the general public, community leaders, health organizations, and criminal justice agencies concerning the effects of family violence, and primarily conducts new research in areas of domestic violence that have yet to be fully explored.

The Philosophy of SAFE is that both males and females are victims or perpetrators of domestic violence to such a degree that warrants serious outreach efforts and supportive resources for both genders. SAFE sees domestic violence as a family system problem with its roots being multifaceted, these include drug and alcohol addiction, psychiatric illness, learned behavior, neurological vulnerability, early childhood abuse, poor interpersonal skills and anger management. SAFE holds men and women accountable for their behavior and believes in the integrity and value of all people.

The Goal of SAFE is to minimize the effects of family violence by generating community support and involvement in conducting and exploring new research while providing a SAFE chapter for women, men and children to receive referral information, community education and advocacy.

 

 

 

 

 

Philip Cook, Investigative Journalist

Biographical Information

Mr. Philip Cook is a noted journalist who has received awards for his reporting from the Associated Press and the Professional Journalism Society among others. His work objectively examines and explains relevant research results, the feelings and problems of interviewed victims, and provider and media response to the issue. He has examined scores of national and international domestic violence and family programs and evaluated their potential for helpful replication. His presentation on male abuse victims and his book Abused Men - The Hidden Side of Domestic Violence (Praeger, Pub.) has received high praise from a diverse spectrum of society such as "Dear Abby", the nation’s leading domestic violence sociologist, attorneys, physicians, law enforcement, and numerous mental health professionals. "I enthusiastically affirm the importance of this material. I highly recommend him as a speaker and the research he has done for your organization." - James J. Londis Ph.D. Director of Ethics and Values Integration, Kettering Medical Center. Reena Sommer, Ph.D. Asst. Professor, University of Manitoba, Family Counselor says, "Philip Cook goes beyond the issues of battered males as he sheds incredible insight into the systemic problem of family violence." Philip Cook holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon, and has appeared on numerous national radio and television shows such as MSNBC, Fox TV’s "The Crier Report", The Sally Jesse Raphael Show", "The Home and Family Show", Westwood Radio Network, and CBS radio. He has written articles on Domestic Violence for the Oregonian, Deseret News, and the EAPA Exchange. He has also co-authored an article in the Journal for Human Behavior in the Social Environment that is forthcoming. To contact him, address your letter to: Mr. Philip Cook, Arrowdot Productions P.O. Box 951, Tualatin, OR 97062 or call (503) 407-4674. E-mail: Tourista@msn.com or www.abusedmen.com.

Judith Davis, Psy.D.

Biographical Information

Dr. Judith Davis is a therapist in private practice with Discovery Center specializing in the assessment and treatment of women, children and adolescents. She holds degrees in Education from UW-Madison, Management from Cardinal Stritch University, and her doctoral degree in Clinical Child Psychology from the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology. She has worked with protective agencies, drop-in clinics, prisons, and hospitals. She has consulted with schools and businesses and taught college for over 10 years. She developed a 6-week course entitled "Parenting for Achievement" which helps parents learn to use the newest parenting tools in order to assist their children achieve in life and school.

Dr. Davis has seen the traumatic affects that domestic violence causes on children both neurological and developmentally. She firmly sees domestic violence as a family system problem and not a gender specific event. She is troubled that most of the literature and presentations only focus on the female victim of spousal abuse when she has seen in a number of cases where men and fathers were the victims. Her focus is not on the political question of who is more likely the adult victim of domestic violence, the man or woman, but how the violence is affecting the children in her clinical care. She is especially concerned about the long lasting and perhaps permanent affects violence has on the children at school, home and later in their adult relationships with others. She insists, "Violence must stop - whoever is doing it - for the sake of the children." She brings a wealth of insight and knowledge to why domestic violence takes place in families and what can be done to stop it for the future of our children. To contact her, address your letter to: Dr. Judith Davis, 3460 Robin Lane, Suite 1, Cameron Park, CA 95682 or call (530) 677-1991, ext. 21.

 

 

 

David L. Fontes, Psy.D., CEAP

Biographical Information

Dr. David L. Fontes is the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) manager for 5,000 employees of the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). He has a Master’s degree in counseling from California State University of Sacramento and received his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from The Professional School of Psychology in Sacramento. His doctoral dissertation was on the topic of male victims of domestic violence. He has been a member of the CDSS Domestic Violence Task Force under Eloise Anderson, director. He is a former Chairperson for SAFE (Stop Abuse For Everyone). He has spoken on the topic of domestic violence against men at many events both local, national, and international. He has been interviewed on the topic of male victims of domestic violence by radio, ABC 20/20, Detroit News, Philadelphia Gazette and was a consultant for the Oprah Winfrey Show on male victims and female perpetrators of domestic violence.

Ms. Sandra Orozco-Stapleton, the founder of WEAVE (Women Escaping A Violent Environment) writes, "Dr. David Fontes’ extensive research has finally found the missing link in the circle of domestic violence. I applaud his passion to complete the dream that each and everyone of us has the right to live without fear." Captain R.D. Carter, Commander of the California Highway Patrol Academy writes about Dr. Fontes’ presentation on male victims of domestic violence by saying, "The presentation was outstanding and gave cadets a fair view of domestic violence situations. The information provided will prove to be a valuable asset for the cadets as they prepare themselves for duty in the field." To contact him, address your letter to: Dr. David Fontes, 5050 Laguna Blvd., Suite 112, PMB 400, Elk Grove, CA 95758. Voice Mail: (916) 685-5258, ex. 8 or E-mail: Spindrift9@aol.com.

 

Stanley Green, Men’s Advocate

Biographical Information

Mr. Stanley Green is an internationally-recognized spokesman for male victims of domestic violence and a certified advocate for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Mr. Green’s workshops and presentations emphasize the human aspects of intimate violence, stepping away from the polarization of gender-wars stereotypes. Mr. Green was one of the first male survivors of domestic violence to break the silence on a social problem which many claimed did not exist. Nationally-syndicated columnist Kathleen Parker wrote of Mr. Green as "the battered male’s poster boy." He had been interviewed regarding gender issues by ABC 20/20, The Oprah Winfrey Show, National Television of Chile, Newsweek, the Associated Press, and radio stations in the Los Angeles and Seattle areas. He advocates for policy change and serves on the Legislative Committee of the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs, and has served on the Public Information Committee of the Los Angeles County Domestic Violence Council. He has conducted training on gender and sexuality bias issues for programs including the YWCA and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Christina Wolf, an honors graduate in psychology from Whitman College, writes: "Mr. Green was an excellent presenter who was obviously well-researched and passionate about what he was teaching. He opened our minds to looking at many angles of gender in domestic violence and sexual assault that are so often overlooked. He presented his material in a clear and interesting manner, and easily engaged us in the issues we were discussing." To contact him, address your letter to: Mr. Stanley Green, P.O. Box 95, College Place, WA 99324. Voice mail: (425) 868-6422. E-mail: greest@yahoo.com.

Judith Sherven, Ph.D. & James Sniechowski, Ph.D.

Biographical Information

Dr. Judith Sherven and Dr. James Sniechowski, a husband and wife psychological team, are two of the country’s most respected, pioneering, and sought after authorities on changing the way we experience differences in our relationships. Their breakthrough, best-selling book, THE NEW INTIMACY: Discovering the Magic at the Heart of Your Differences, demonstrates a new vision of differences -- as facilitating personal growth and spiritual meaning -- available only as a result of value and respect for differences. They have appeared on over 450 television and radio shows including "Oprah," "The View", "New Attitudes" and "48 Hours." They also host their own daily talk-radio show on the Wisdom Radio Network. (www.wisdomradio.com, M-F, Noon-2 PT)

Dr. Sherven and Dr. Sniechowski are committed to helping people change their attitude toward differences between people -- from threatening and hateful (which is at the heart of divorce, as well as all violence, including domestic violence, child abuse and even suicide) to the catalyst for deepest self-awareness and passionate intimacy. They inspire men and women to transform themselves and their relationships through compassion and curiosity -- counteracting the kind of hate and fear that continues to abuse and kill. As Judith and Jim say, "Only through our differences can we love and be loved for all that we are -- flaws, brilliance, the whole package!" Neal Robinson, President Robinson Marketing remarks, "As an organizer of conferences, there are no two people in whom I have more confidence as presenters." To contact them, address your letter to P.O.Box 975 Windam, New York 12496 518.734.3657 jimjude@ix.netcom shervsniec@mindspring.com

Ms. Sandra Orozco-Stapleton has been a community pioneer and leader for many years in Sacramento area. She has worked with Americans with Disabilities at Sacramento City College, has been on the Sacramento Mayor’s Committee on Disability, the Educational Representative for the California Placement Association and currently works as a facilitator for Fast Track, helping Welfare recipients get back to work. She has been the past President of the Sacramento Community Resource Council, and was honored by receiving the first Woman in History Award in Sacramento for being the original founder of W.E.A.V.E. (Women Escaping A Violent Environment) which was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1978.

As a victim of domestic violence herself, she knows first hand the pain and scares spousal abuse leaves on the victims and the children who watch and hear the fighting. Sandra’s vision in the mid-70s was to work with the whole family, men, women and children. Although she is pleased with the funding help and services women and children have received she is also saddened that little funding is going on to help either male victims or female perpetrators of domestic violence. She has said, "How can we solve the problem of domestic violence if we leave out helping men who are victims of spousal abuse." She believes that more must be done to help all victims of domestic violence whether male or female. Her passion is to make sure no more children have to witness violence between their parents. She view the children as the true victims of domestic violence and wants to see services and funding for all victims regardless of gender or sexual orientation. To contact her, address your letter to: Ms. Sandra Orozco-Stapleton, 6812 Havenside Dr., Sacramento, CA 95831 or call her at (916) 422-6630. E-mail: pinkcaddygal@aol.com