Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon February 12, 2020 Page 5 A message from Warm Springs VOCS The office of Warm Springs Vic- tims of Crime Services—VOCS— wishes ever yone a safe and happy Februar y. VOCS would like to take this time—as Februar y is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month—to share these recent statistics: Jayson Smith/Spilyay Look for Lincoln’s Powwow results in the next Spilyay. Community notes... Pathways Home The first of two classes for Path- ways Home: A Native Homeownership Course will be on Saturday, February 22. The classes are at the Credit Enterprise con- ference room starting at 9 a.m. There will be four different mod- ules during the first class: You’ll learn about Financing, Purchasing and Maintaining a Home; Building versus Buying; Mortgage Loans; and Budgeting, while gaining hands-on practice. This course is required for any- one in the Community Action Team’s Individual Development Account (IDA) program for home ownership. The second class will be on February 29. To sign up call 541-553-3148. Education program for youth AmeriCorps at Heart of Oregon Corps is now accepting applications for the upcoming spring program, starting on March 2. Applications are due by February 25. The AmeriCorps at Heart of Oregon Corps program is for three months, and is designed to engage young adults ages 17-24. Over recent, many young people from Warm Springs have completed the program, helping them gradu- ate high school, move on to college, or develop career skills. Members learn leadership and conservation skills through envi- ronmental projects on public lands, habitats and park infrastructure throughout Central Oregon, in- cluding on the reservation. Members who complete the three-month term earn $275 per week living stipend, and an award for college. To apply visit the website: Heartoforegoncorps.org Of call 541-633-7834. · About 1.5 million high school boys and girls in the U.S. admit to being intentionally hit or physically harmed in the last year by some- one they are romantically involved with. · Teens who suffer dating abuse are subject to long-term conse- quences like alcoholism, eating dis- orders, promiscuity, thoughts of suicide, and violent behavior. · One in three young people will be in an abusive or unhealthy re- lationship. Thirty-three percent of adolescents in America are victim to sexual, physical, verbal, or emo- tional dating abuse. · In tour country 25-percent of high school girls have been abused physically or sexually. Teen girls who are abused this way are six times more likely to become pregnant or contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI). · Females between the ages of 16 and 24 are roughly three times more likely than the rest of the population to be abused by an in- timate partner. · Eight states in the U.S. do not consider a violent dating rela- tionship domestic abuse. There- fore, adolescents, teens, and 20- somethings are unable to apply for a restraining order for protection from the abuser. · Violent behavior often begins between sixth and twelfth grades. Seventy-two percent of 13 and 14- year-olds are ‘dating.’ · Fifty-percent of young people who experience rape or physical or sexual abuse will attempt to com- mit suicide. If you or anyone you know is ex- periencing teen dating violence, please contact the Warm Springs Po- lice Department, or Warm Springs Victims of Crime, phone 541-553- 2293. Or come to our office located at 1108 Wasco Street. Michele Gonzales, Advocate, Warm Springs Victims of Crime Services.