Louisanna Announces New Law
WONDERFUL progress in Lousianna!
Louisiana recently passed HB 46 sponsored by Rep. Nita Hutter, a member of the National Foundation of Women Legislators (NFWL), which requires teen dating violence education in grades 7-12 in the health curriculum. The law was passed as a collaborative effort as Rep. Hutter worked with Love Is Not Abuse Coalition member Louisiana Appleseed, a non-profit organization made up of pro bono lawyers that supports social change. The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Louisiana Dept. of Education also supported passage of this law.
Passage of a law is the first and perhaps the most important step toward prevention through education. But the work does not end there. Proper implementation of such a law is not always easy and requires much planning and work to make it successful. Although not required by law, Louisiana quickly recognized the need for teacher training on the topic of teen dating violence and training on how to teach the topic, as well as availability of curricula and resources.
Love Is Not Abuse Coalition member Louisiana Appleseed worked diligently with the Louisiana Dept. of Education and the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LACADV) to organize the first round of teacher training workshops. And so last week, I had the pleasure of presenting those workshops to approximately 160 teachers and domestic violence advocates. Besides receiving a folder of printed materials from the Lindsay Ann Burke Memorial Fund, LACADV, and the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, each participant received a copy of the newly revised Love Is Not Abuse curriculum CD. They were most grateful and impressed that we were able to provide the Love Is Not Abuse curriculum to them. I explained the role that Liz Claiborne Inc. has played in this movement over the years, including the recent revision of the curriculum to include a lesson on digital abuse and the recently released college edition. The participants were further impressed and, again, extremely grateful. I have great faith that they will indeed return to their schools and use the curriculum and all of the materials.
It is the personal stories of victims that help to motivate others to actions. During the workshops, Louisiana college student Alicia Kozak told her story of being a victim while in high school, and how she now works as an advocate on her college campus. Alicia also testified at the Louisiana State House for passage of HB 46.
It is most gratifying to experience firsthand the implementation of a law that will lead to the education of thousands of teens. Louisiana has taken the first steps by passing a law and beginning the lengthy process of implementation. I have no doubt that Louisiana will indeed be successful in fully implementing the new law and by doing so, will educate thousands of teens, thus giving them the tools to help themselves and others. Congratulations to Rep. Nita Hutter, the National Foundation of Women Legislators and our Louisiana Love Is Not Abuse Coalition Member, Louisiana Appleseed.
Louisiana recently passed HB 46 sponsored by Rep. Nita Hutter, a member of the National Foundation of Women Legislators (NFWL), which requires teen dating violence education in grades 7-12 in the health curriculum. The law was passed as a collaborative effort as Rep. Hutter worked with Love Is Not Abuse Coalition member Louisiana Appleseed, a non-profit organization made up of pro bono lawyers that supports social change. The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Louisiana Dept. of Education also supported passage of this law.
Passage of a law is the first and perhaps the most important step toward prevention through education. But the work does not end there. Proper implementation of such a law is not always easy and requires much planning and work to make it successful. Although not required by law, Louisiana quickly recognized the need for teacher training on the topic of teen dating violence and training on how to teach the topic, as well as availability of curricula and resources.
Love Is Not Abuse Coalition member Louisiana Appleseed worked diligently with the Louisiana Dept. of Education and the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LACADV) to organize the first round of teacher training workshops. And so last week, I had the pleasure of presenting those workshops to approximately 160 teachers and domestic violence advocates. Besides receiving a folder of printed materials from the Lindsay Ann Burke Memorial Fund, LACADV, and the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, each participant received a copy of the newly revised Love Is Not Abuse curriculum CD. They were most grateful and impressed that we were able to provide the Love Is Not Abuse curriculum to them. I explained the role that Liz Claiborne Inc. has played in this movement over the years, including the recent revision of the curriculum to include a lesson on digital abuse and the recently released college edition. The participants were further impressed and, again, extremely grateful. I have great faith that they will indeed return to their schools and use the curriculum and all of the materials.
It is the personal stories of victims that help to motivate others to actions. During the workshops, Louisiana college student Alicia Kozak told her story of being a victim while in high school, and how she now works as an advocate on her college campus. Alicia also testified at the Louisiana State House for passage of HB 46.
It is most gratifying to experience firsthand the implementation of a law that will lead to the education of thousands of teens. Louisiana has taken the first steps by passing a law and beginning the lengthy process of implementation. I have no doubt that Louisiana will indeed be successful in fully implementing the new law and by doing so, will educate thousands of teens, thus giving them the tools to help themselves and others. Congratulations to Rep. Nita Hutter, the National Foundation of Women Legislators and our Louisiana Love Is Not Abuse Coalition Member, Louisiana Appleseed.
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