On Monday, October 16, Cabrini University hosted its seventh annual Domestic Violence Awareness Symposium and the official launch the Center for Children of Trauma and Domestic Violence.
A half-day Domestic Violence Symposium focused on family perspectives on the tragedies of domestic violence through “A Conversation with Janine Rajauski.” There was also a panel discussion with Bill Mitchell, President of the Kristin Mitchell Foundation; Monica Jenkinson and Minna Davis of Laurel House; Barbara and John Jordan, advocates of domestic violence education; and Eliza Costoso, PsyD, Counseling and Psychological Services at Cabrini University. Each program was followed by an audience Q&A.
In the evening, Cabrini welcomed its community of domestic violence awareness advocates and educators as it officially launched the new Barbara and John Jordan Center for Children of Trauma and Domestic Violence Education.
The launch featured a keynote presentation by Lynn Rosenthal, Policy Director for Violence Against Women Initiatives for the Biden Foundation, and
a ceremonial launch.
The mission statement of the Center reads, “furthering Cabrini’s Education of the Heart, the Center Center for Children of Trauma and Domestic Violence Education strives to end domestic violence and support children of trauma by promoting social change through professional development, training, education, research, and community.”
The Center will:
- Educate teachers, leaders, and advocates to end violence in the lives of children, women, and men
- Offer proven, community-informed tactics to prevent domestic violence, and to become aware of and help heal children of trauma
- Confront in effective new ways the challenges of intimate partner violence
- Better inform first contact educators, nurses, and others of the effects of domestic violence and trauma on children’s learning and professionals and domestic violence advocates while offering community-informed methods of tackling domestic violence and working with children of trauma
Throughout the month, Cabrini students also are hosting events honoring domestic violence awareness, including a Mass, movie screenings, and a dress-in-purple day.