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Union County Uses Facebook to Help Students Prevent Violence

Union County, NJ – Union County is using the social networking site Facebook to support a new anti-violence program for young adults called Green Dot.  Green Dot teaches high school students how to intervene safely when they see bullying, harassment, stalking, or other behavior that could lead to violence.  The Facebook page is GreenDot UnionCounty.

Green Dot is run through the Union County Rape Crisis Center.  A pilot test of the program was conducted at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School last spring in partnership with the Union County Coalition to Prevent Sexual Violence.

“Green Dot helps students create a positive atmosphere in which people with harmful intentions learn that their peers will not tolerate bullying and intimidation,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan.  “The Facebook page will help participants in Green Dot connect with each other and build a strong, active community.”

Union County Green Dot is based on the national Green Dot program, which was originally designed to help prevent sexual violence on college campuses. The Rape Crisis Center plans to develop additional Green Dot activities in Scotch Plains and Fanwood this year, before bringing the program to other communities in Union County.

The Union County Rape Crisis Center has been assisting victims of sexual assault since 1984.  The heart of the service is a corps of trained Volunteer Advocates. The Advocates provide guidance and support by phone, by meeting personally with victims, and by accompanying victims when dealing with police, legal, and medical issues. Bilingual help is also available.

For more information on Green Dot, or to learn how to become a Volunteer Advocate, call the Rape Crisis Center Hotline at 908-233-7273.

More information about the Rape Crisis Center is also available at www.unioncountyrapecrisiscenter.blogspot.com.