Two Penn State Beaver faculty members are featured in the fall issue of the Penn State Outreach magazine. "The Myths and Truths of Domestic Violence," written by Karen Cavaliere Zitomer, highlights research and programs implemented by John Chapin, associate professor of communications, and Carol Schafer, associate professor of theatre, integrative arts and women's studies at Penn State Beaver.
Chapin is a health communications and health-risk expert who works with Crisis Center North (CCN), a nonprofit counseling and educational resource center for victims of domestic violence in Allegheny County. Schafer and CCN executive director Grace Coleman wrote "The Other Side of the River," a fictionalized play based on interviews with survivors of assault in the Pittsburgh area.
Chapin's evaluation of CCN's services has led to significant program enhancement and has been important in helping CCN prove program efficacy to obtain funds. He and his CCN colleagues evaluated middle and high school students’ reactions to CCN educational sessions designed to increase awareness of high-risk situations. The play by Schafer and Coleman was performed at Pittsburgh's Andy Warhol Museum in 2003 and at the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency's annual Pathways for Victim Services Conference in 2004. The play was funded through Verizon Wireless and a Penn State Research Development Grant. Verizon funded a video of the play that was produced by WPSU.
To read the complete article, visit http://www.live.psu.edu/outreach. Chapin can be contacted at jrc11@psu.edu or (724) 773-3877 and Schafer can be reached at cas33@psu.edu or (724) 773-3591.