The Waitt Institute for Violence Prevention
The Waitt Institute for Violence Prevention
801 River Drive, Suite 200
P. O. Box 1397
North Sioux City, South Dakota 57049
USA
The Waitt Family Foundation was founded by Ted Waitt, Gateway Computer Company, and in 2004, he established the Waitt Institute For Violence Prevention led by his sister Cindy Waitt.
The Waitt Institute for Violence Prevention is a private operating foundation committed to breaking the cycle of violence in our homes and communities by focusing on violence prevention on the local and national level.
The Violence Prevention movement in America has had many champions. From the early shelter movement and political activism in the 60's and 70's to the establishment under President Bill Clinton of the Office of Violence Against Women in 1994, leaders began to intervene against the most damaging and pervasive form of violence in our country.
We've come a long way
Movements, however, need a tipping point. This happens through prevention. This happens when you reach youth. This happens when you bring men to the table. That's what we're doing.
The Waitt Institute for Violence Prevention is the only private foundation in America that focuses solely on primary prevention. Through our strong partnership with the Family Violence Prevention Fund, and others, we've started a national groundswell that will change social norms contributing to family violence.
Through our critical, deeper, on-ground work in Sioux City, to our national and international rollouts of violence prevention messages, to intense legislative activity, we can take the lead in what we expect will decrease the devastation of family violence.
VPA focal person
Judy Stafford
Tel: +1 605 232 9929
Fax: +1 605 232 9486
E-mail: judy@waittinsitute.org
Judy Stafford is a native of Sioux City, Iowa, earned a Batchelor Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of South Dakota, and worked more than 30 years with youth and families. She began working in youth corrections for a few years before making the move to working in several positions within residential treatment centers primarily with adolescent boys and their families. Recognizing family violence as a major issue for many of the youth and family members led her to become more interested in primary violence prevention, particularly after working as a batterer education facilitator.
In 1999, Ms. Stafford convinced the Waitt Family Foundation to focus part of their resources and attention to preventing domestic violence. For the last seven years, as Director for Violence Prevention, she has partnered with national and local (Sioux City area) organizations that are committed to building knowledge and resources for sustainable primary family violence prevention efforts.