MANSFIELD — Richland County Children Services kicked off the Choose Your Partner Carefully campaign Monday.
The program focuses on raising awareness — especially among women with children — to avoid partners who might be abusive.
Richland Services officials said about a third of child abuse cases reported in Richland County are the result of children being abused by their mom’s boyfriend, fiancé or new husband.
In 2009, the local agency investigated a record 2,748 cases of alleged child abuse and neglect.
“In those cases, nearly 900 times in Richland County last year, a child became a victim because of his or her mother’s choice of companion,” said Carl Hunnell, Children Services spokesman.
Children Services is working with the Richland County Domestic Violence Center and the Richland County Foundation’s Women Fund on this project to help inhibit the violence. Richland County Foundation provided a $2,750 grant to kick off the effort.
Kathy Ezawa, director of the Domestic Violence Shelter, said the grant will be used to educate women about choosing a partner who will treat them and their children with dignity and respect — and how to recognize potential danger signs.
She said the staff at Children Services and the Domestic Violence Shelter will go into the community to implement the program.
Jim and Elsa Croucher, of Middletown, also shared their personal tragedy. On Dec. 22, 1992, their 18-year-old daughter, Tina, was slain by her abusive ex-boyfriend in their home. He then turned the gun on himself.
Elsa Croucher said there was something a little different about him.
“We just couldn’t put our fingers on it,” Croucher said. “Later we learned he was from an abusive home and he really did not know how to have normal relationships with anyone.
“He started dating Tina, this strong-willed child, telling her where to go, who to see, what to wear, what friends to see, what time to be home, the whole nine yards of control — and Tina allowed this to happen. And then when he was able to control her, he started with the hitting and the slapping, and one day Tina came home with a large bruise on her face. … She said, ‘A gang of us were playing football and a football hit my face.’ And we believed her. This straight-forward young lady, we believed every word she told us.”
The boy transferred to their daughter’s high school. One day, as he walked down the hall, Tina was talking to another guy, when he grabbed her and threw her against some lockers.
“That was the first time we realized Tina was in an abusive relationship,” Elsa Croucher said.
Her parents told her to break up with him, but eventually she went back to him. He followed Tina everywhere.
While the parents were at work, he came to their home while Tina was sleeping and killed her.
In 1996, the Crouchers established Citizens Against Domestic Violence, a nonprofit organization that educates teens about the dangers of domestic violence.
On Dec. 28, House Bill 19, dubbed Tina’s Law, was signed by Gov. Ted Strickland. Under the law, school districts must adopt a policy to prevent and address dating violence at school and train staff on prevention education for health classes.
“We started this organization out of our grief,” Jim Croucher said. “We feel like if you can get to the young people and make them aware (that’s the key).
“Domestic violence, a.k.a. teen dating violence — the stats are virtually the same except the one: The homicide rate is slightly higher among teenagers.”
lwhitmire@nncogannett.com 419-521-7223
Source: http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20100209/NEWS01/2090311
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