Ranger 360 Community Forum Set For May 29

Ranger 360, a collaborative program headed by the Lakewood City School District , Domestic Violence & Child Advocacy Center (DVCAC), Cleveland Rape Crisis Center (CRCC) and Lakewood Police Department, is holding its first community forum on Wednesday, May 29 at 7p.m. in the Garfield Middle School Cafetorium.

The goal of Ranger 360 is to design and implement a comprehensive school-based response to sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking (SADDVS). Lakewood is one of nine districts in the nation and the only one in Ohio that received federal funding to support a program of this nature and is in the position to create a state and even national model as a result.

Research suggests that successful interventions are tailored to fit the unique context of their community, which is why community involvement and insight is critical. This grant provides for two program coordinators, Abby McGinty (DVCAC) and Katie Kurtz, LISW (CRCC), who will be embedded within Harding and Garfield Middle Schools, Lakewood High School, and Lakewood City Academy providing leadership for Ranger 360 over the next two years. They will be seeking broad community support to improve the District’s SADDVS services, education, training and policy.

Over the past few months, McGinty and Kurtz conducted a community assessment to learn more about Lakewood and the community’s needs and assets for responding to SADDVS.  They have spoken with parents, district administrators and staff, community members and held student discussion groups to honor the youth voice and perspective.  They learned that each person plays an undeniably important role in creating positive change and reducing incidents of violence.

The Ranger 360 research uncovered the desire and vision in Lakewood to create a violence-free community:

“I’d really like to see people not afraid to talk about these issues…I don’t know exactly what that looks like to be honest...people treating others with respect, kindness. Not filled with hate and negativity, no factions, no groups. Welcoming...it would be phenomenal.”

While dating, domestic and sexual violence affect individuals regardless of age, teens are especially vulnerable. 1 in 3 adolescent girls is a victim of abuse from a dating partner. People age 12-19 experience the highest rates of rape and sexual assault and people age 18-19 experience the highest rates of stalking. Add to that the 15.5 million U.S. children who live in families in which partner violence occurred at least once in the last year and you have a huge number of young people in this country whose lives are affected by violence.

Lakewood recognizes this dire need for change and the district has chosen to take a stand.  Come to the Community Forum on May 29 and hear more about the research conducted and the role each community member can play in Ranger 360’s efforts.