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The National Center for Victims of Crime Applauds Miss America for Anti-Violence and Anti-Bullying Initiatives
New York, NY
Wednesday, September 25, 2002
THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME APPLAUDS
MISS AMERICA FOR ANTI-VIOLENCE, ANTI-BULLYING INITIATIVES
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National Crime Victim Advocacy Group to Partner with Erika Harold on Teen Violence Outreach
New York, NY ? During a news conference today announcing public and private partnerships with the new reigning Miss America, the National Center for Victims of Crime heralded the nation?s new Miss America, Erika Harold, for her leadership in fighting teen violence and bullying.
?We commend Erika for her courageous decision to raise public awareness about teen violence,? said Susan Herman, executive director of the National Center for Victims of Crime. ?We look forward to collaborating with Miss America on reaching out to victims and encouraging them to seek help.?
A 2001 Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that 84 percent of adolescents ages 12 to 15 report the occurrence of teasing and bullying at their school. This age group also ranked bullying as a problem bigger than racism, AIDS, and the pressure to try alcohol and drugs or to have sex.
Erika Harold chose the platform of anti-violence and anti-bullying after being a victim of racial and sexual harassment when she was in high school. ?Erika personally knows how painful and disruptive bullying and harassment can be for a teenager,? said Herman. ?We admire Erika?s courage in speaking up publicly about her own victimization, and for advocating for meaningful change to address this serious issue.?
The National Center for Victims of Crime?s Teen Victim Project is dedicated to improving the national response to teen victims of crime. The project?s mission is to raise awareness of the incidence and impact of teen victimization, to decrease repeat victimization, and to encourage community collaboration to identify and support teen victims of crime. As Miss Illinois, Erika Harold supported the National Center?s Teen Victim Project in raising awareness of the problems of teen bullying and victimization.
A new national study on teenage victimization shows that teenagers and young adults are approximately twice as likely to be victimized by violence as other age groups and that the victimization of an adolescent can have serious consequences on school performance, physical and mental health, substance abuse, and delinquent behavior. Our Vulnerable Teenagers: Their Victimization, Its Consequences, and Directions for Prevention and Intervention was released in July 2002 by the National Center for Victims of Crime and the National Council on Crime and Delinquency. A copy of this report can be found at www.ncvc.org/teens.
Rel. No. 02-14a
The National Center for Victims of Crime is dedicated to forging a national commitment to help victims of crime rebuild their lives. The National Center?s toll-free helpline, 1-800-FYI-CALL, offers practical information, community resources for crime victims, as well as supportive counseling and skilled advocacy in the criminal justice and social service systems.
MISS AMERICA FOR ANTI-VIOLENCE, ANTI-BULLYING INITIATIVES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Crime Victim Advocacy Group to Partner with Erika Harold on Teen Violence Outreach
New York, NY ? During a news conference today announcing public and private partnerships with the new reigning Miss America, the National Center for Victims of Crime heralded the nation?s new Miss America, Erika Harold, for her leadership in fighting teen violence and bullying.
?We commend Erika for her courageous decision to raise public awareness about teen violence,? said Susan Herman, executive director of the National Center for Victims of Crime. ?We look forward to collaborating with Miss America on reaching out to victims and encouraging them to seek help.?
A 2001 Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that 84 percent of adolescents ages 12 to 15 report the occurrence of teasing and bullying at their school. This age group also ranked bullying as a problem bigger than racism, AIDS, and the pressure to try alcohol and drugs or to have sex.
Erika Harold chose the platform of anti-violence and anti-bullying after being a victim of racial and sexual harassment when she was in high school. ?Erika personally knows how painful and disruptive bullying and harassment can be for a teenager,? said Herman. ?We admire Erika?s courage in speaking up publicly about her own victimization, and for advocating for meaningful change to address this serious issue.?
The National Center for Victims of Crime?s Teen Victim Project is dedicated to improving the national response to teen victims of crime. The project?s mission is to raise awareness of the incidence and impact of teen victimization, to decrease repeat victimization, and to encourage community collaboration to identify and support teen victims of crime. As Miss Illinois, Erika Harold supported the National Center?s Teen Victim Project in raising awareness of the problems of teen bullying and victimization.
A new national study on teenage victimization shows that teenagers and young adults are approximately twice as likely to be victimized by violence as other age groups and that the victimization of an adolescent can have serious consequences on school performance, physical and mental health, substance abuse, and delinquent behavior. Our Vulnerable Teenagers: Their Victimization, Its Consequences, and Directions for Prevention and Intervention was released in July 2002 by the National Center for Victims of Crime and the National Council on Crime and Delinquency. A copy of this report can be found at www.ncvc.org/teens.
Rel. No. 02-14a
The National Center for Victims of Crime is dedicated to forging a national commitment to help victims of crime rebuild their lives. The National Center?s toll-free helpline, 1-800-FYI-CALL, offers practical information, community resources for crime victims, as well as supportive counseling and skilled advocacy in the criminal justice and social service systems.
Mary Gleason Rappaport
Director of Communications
The National Center for Victims of Crime
Washington, DC
202-467-8700
202-467-8701
First Url: The National Center for Victim of Crime
