Rain, Rain Go… Water My Yard!!! |
I hope everyone has been holding on to something sturdy because this wind is crazy! This month we have a lot to share. First is our “What’s Happening?” section where we’ll go over recent and upcoming events. Then we’ll touch on Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Youth Violence Prevention Week. We’ll follow that up with some quick information on Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, Child Abuse Awareness Month, and National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This month we will end with a great featured story about a major narcotics seizure by the Fort Worth PD. Thanks for joining us this month!
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This year we are excited to be back IN-PERSON to host the 2022 Stop Violence Conference! This conference is a unique opportunity to learn about current trends on violent crimes, interpersonal victimization, juvenile issues, and innovative approaches to address these issues.
Innovative topics covered will be progressive and applicable to those working in re-entry, social service providers, law enforcement, corrections, educators, counselors, government agencies, faith-based and community organizations, and health professions.
A maximum of 17 hours can be provided for TCOLE and 14 hours for all licensed mental health professionals (e.g., LMFT, LPC, Social Work, etc).
ATTENDEE COST: $250 per person
CREDIT CARDS & CHECKS ACCEPTED!
Download our Event Flyer by clicking HERE
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"Baby Gabriel: A Genetic
Genealogy Case Study"
Cheryl Hester
Director of Genetic Genealogy
AdvanceDNA
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"Wrong Lanes Have Right
Turns"
Michael Phillips
Chief Engagement & Fulfillment Office
T.D. Jakes Foundations
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"Creating Safe Spaces
for Kids"
Krista Nightengale
Executive Director
Better Block Foundation
&
P.J. Meitl
Assistant U.S. Attorney
U.S. Attorney's Office for the
Northern District of Texas
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One Safe Place Family Justice Center
10-Year Anniversary Celebration!
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On Tuesday, April 5th, One Safe Place celebrated the 10 year anniversary of the Family Justice Center! This is a great accomplishment and major milestone for One Safe Place. The Family Justice Center movement really took hold in 2003 when President George W. Bush invested in the Family Justice Center initiative that started out in San Diego, California. With a lot of perseverance, hard work, partnership, and collaboration, the One Safe Place Family Justice Center was created and in April of 2012 it served its first client. Since then, One Safe Place has continued to be one of the largest and most comprehensive Family Justice Centers in the world! Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County is extremely proud to be a program of One Safe Place. We hope you can join us in celebrating this astounding achievement. |
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Webinar: Have You Ever Wondered What You Can Do to Make Your Community Safer? |
On Thursday, April 21st at 1pm, Rachel Gilbert and Julian Rangel will be presenting on crime prevention efforts in our community with a significant spotlight on the Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County programs including Campus Crime Stoppers and Friends for Life. If you would like to register, you can click here or on the image above. This is a FREE webinar opportunity! CEU’s are available. We hope you can join us!
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Sexual Assault Awareness Month |
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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This month is all about raising awareness and promoting prevention of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse.1
This year’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center is titled “Building Safe Online Spaces Together.” 2 This campaign is focused on the way harassment and abuse is perpetuated online through technological means. Unfortunately, harassment, cyberbullying, sexual abuse, and exploitation have become all too common and unavoidable behaviors seen and experienced online.2 Below are common forms of online sexual harassment 3:
- Sending unwelcomed sexual communications.
- Sending unwanted requests for nude photos or videos of sexual acts.
- Performing sexual acts on webcam without the consent of all individuals involved (i.e., online class or work meeting)
- Sharing private images or videos without the consent of everyone involved; this is also known as “revenge porn.”
- Sharing explicit images/videos without the consent of everyone viewing it.
- Grooming children to enable their sexual abuse either online or offline.
It is up to us as a community to create online spaces that are inclusive, safe, and respectful which allow all individuals to thrive online and offline.2 There is so much to learn about online sexual harassment and abuse. If you would like to read more about Sexual Assault Awareness Month, as well as online sexual harassment and abuse, we encourage you to visit www.nsvrc.org/saam.
Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County is able to take anonymous tips related to sexual harassment that occurs in-person and online. Tarrant Couunty students/youth can utilize our Friends for Life program to provide anonymous reports about sexual harassment that a peer may be experiencing. Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County is not a crisis line. If you are experiencing sexual assault or violence of any kind, please call One Safe Place at 817-916-4323. For those who have any information on suspected sexual assault of another individual or a sexual assault perpetrator, then please leave an anonymous tip by calling 817-469-8477, going to www.469tips.com, or using the "CCS FFL" or "P3 Tips" mobile apps.
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Ways to Promote SAAM:
- Talk about SAAM on your social media.
- Wear teal to show your support for SAAM.
- Be vocal about your support for SA victims and survivors.
- Promote the concept and use of consent.
- Advocate for school, workplace, and legislative policies that protect sexual assault victims.
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Resources:
- 1100 Hemphill St., Fort Worth, TX 76104
- For Help: 817-916-4323
- 1723 Hemphill St., Fort Worth, TX 76110
- Crisis Hotline: 817-927-2737
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National Youth Violence Prevention Week |
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April 25th through 29th is National Youth Violence Prevention Week! This initiative started in 2001 as a way for youth to lead their communities toward effective strategies to prevent and reduce violence.4
According to the CDC, youth violence is an “intentional use of physical force or power to threaten or harm others by young people ages 10-24.”5 Violence includes fighting, threats, bullying, gang-related violence, and much more.5 Youth can be involved and impacted by violence either as a victim, perpetrator, or witness; all have impacts on their health and well-being.5
Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, are those experiences that relate to violence, drug use, crime, and other negative life experiences that lead to negative health outcomes.5 You can find out how to calculate an ACE score by clicking here.
Preventing youth violence is key to increasing the health and well-being of the young people in our communities. Here are some key ways to prevent youth violence5:
- Promote supportive family environments.
- Providing quality education early in life.
- Strengthening youth’s skills.
- Connecting youth to caring adults and positive activities.
- Create and maintain protective community environments.
- Intervene to reduce harms and prevent future risk.
You can learn more about the National Youth Violence Prevention Week campaign by clicking here.
Campus Crime Stoppers and Friends for Life are programs designed to help youth take action in preventing and reducing crime and violence in their communities and schools. Anonymous tips on suspected crimes, known fugitives, and victimization can be submitted by calling 817-469-8477, going to www.469tips.com, or using the “CCS FFL” mobile app.
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Other April Awareness Campaigns |
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April is Child Abuse Awareness Month. Through the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services “WE CAN” campaign, communities can work together to support families and children by applying protective factor approaches. Unfortunately, child abuse has continued to rise in Texas over the past 5 years. As a community we can work together to prevent this harm - this month and every month. To learn more about protective factors approaches, click here. For those who suspect abuse of a child, please call to leave an anonymous tip at 817-469-8477, online at www.469tips.com, or through the "CCS FFL" or "P3 Tips mobile" app.
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April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month! Animals deserve livelihoods that are humane and free of abuse. In addition, those who abuse animals are usually more likely to inflict harm and violence on other humans in the future. If you know of someone abusing or neglecting animals, you can submit an anonymous tip by calling 817-469-8477, going to www.469tips.com, or using the "P3 Tips" mobile app.
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National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) is this month from April 24th-30th, 2022. This is a week dedicated to acknowledging the achievements made in victim services and allied professions while also remembering crime victims and survivors. This year the Office for Victims of Crime selected the theme “Rights, access, equity, for all victims.” This theme emphasizes the importance of enforcing victims’ rights, expanding access to services, and ensuring equity and inclusion for all. To learn more about NCVRW and how you can promote this year's message, please click here.
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Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County's
Featured Story of the Month
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Major Fort Worth Narcotics Seizure
Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County and Fort Worth Narcotics received a tip on February 9th 2022 referencing suspected narcotics transactions at a rented house in Fort Worth. The tipster observed what they, and other neighbors in the area, described as suspicious activity at the house involving two subjects who were staying at the address, including large barrels being delivered to the house, the occasional smell of marijuana smoke, and a marijuana plant found to be growing in the easement of the house. Fort Worth Narcotics took over the investigation of the tip. The team was able to identify the residence as being a “stash house” and set up continued surveillance. A traffic stop was completed on a subject leaving the residence which led to warrants being prepared to search the premises. Additional traffic stops were completed on subjects leaving the residence yielding arrests for class C warrants and the seizure of a firearm. The Fort Worth Police SWAT team conducted a search on the residence and located additional firearms, money, and multiple narcotics.
The total amount of seized narcotics from the traffic stops and the search warrant was approximately 287lbs. of marijuana, carrying a value of approximately $574,000, and approximately 60lbs of THC wax and edibles totaling approximately $35,000. Additional seizures include vehicles, firearms, and cash totaling approximately $50,275. Multiple arrests were made covering charges including possession of marijuana 4oz-5lbs, possession of marijuana 50lbs-2000lbs, class C warrants from multiple agencies. As of this writing, additional charges are still expected.
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Training, Contact Info, Print Material,
and Engagement Site
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If you have new contact information for the 2021-2022 school year, please complete the Campus Crime Stoppers/Friends for Life Contact Information Form by clicking here.
Print materials can be requested when filling out the contact information form, however, if more are needed a request can be made by emailing Julian at jrangel@onesafeplace.org. Items can be picked up at One Safe Place by appointment or delivered to your location as staffing allows.
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Our various resources on this Google site can be utilized throughout the school year to engage your campus and help realize the full potential of the Campus Crime Stoppers and Friends for Life programs.
The Awareness & Engagement Google Site includes our NEW & IMPROVED Campus Crime Stoppers Operational Manual that provides a guide on how Crime Stoppers operates, answers many of your general questions, and gives you various ways that you can increase awareness and engagement across your campus and/or district!
Important Links (click to visit):
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Follow Us!
Please feel free to follow us on all of our social media!
If your organization, school, or agency has social media pages please have them follow us and we will be sure to follow back!!
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If you know of any other individuals, teams, or organizations that would like to be a part of this newsletter please do not hesitate to have them contact either Rachel or Julian so that they can be added to the email list.
If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns regarding Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County and our various programs please feel free to reach out to us at any time and we will respond in a timely manner.
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Best regards,
Rachel Gilbert
Director, Crime Prevention Programs
&
Julian Rangel
Engagement and Outreach Specialist
1100 Hemphill Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76104
817-469-8477 | 469tips.com | "CCS FFL" & "P3Tips" mobile apps
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