February 2010
Ohio State Board of Cosmetology
1929 Gateway Circle •
Grove City, Ohio 43123
Local: (614) 466-3834 •
Statewide: 1-866-642-6723
http://cos.ohio.gov
The Ohio State Board of Cosmetology currently serves more than 130,000 licensees across the state and most every licensee has had some form of contact with one or more of the board’s 35 staff members. This particular article is written with mixed emotions; as we introduce three new team members and bid farewell to a longtime member of the OSBC staff.
Ms. Christine Reynolds retired after thirty years of service with the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology. Ms. Reynolds has been instrumental in the numerous positions she held during her tenure with the board. Ms. Reynolds’ knowledge spanned the various areas of cosmetology; from laws and rules, through continuing education requirements, to license examinations. Her pleasant and friendly demeanor made it very easy to work alongside her. So, “bon voyage” Ms. Reynolds; we wish you the best on your retirement!
Andrew (AJ) Ewing recently joined the OSBC team as our Data Analyst / IT Support person. Mr. Ewing will be filling the position formerly held by Ms. Reynolds. He brings both a friendly personality and a strong work ethic to our agency. Although most licensees and customers may not see him, Mr. Ewing will be involved with most every aspect of the board operations, and bringing the board to the forefront in technological advancement.
If you call the main phone number to the board office, you may be greeted by Mr. Taylor or Ms. Jones; either of our next staff spotlights:
Phyllis Jones joined the OSBC team in May 2009 as a Customer Service Associate. Her 20 plus years of customer service experience are a tremendous asset to our agency. You might recognize Ms. Jones’s point-blank line of questioning which allows her to assist the largest amount of callers, as efficiently as humanly possible.
Kijuana (Ky) Taylor joined the OSBC team in early December 2009 as a Customer Service Associate. Mr. Taylor provides our customers with proficient service coupled with patience and attention to detail.
It is common to regard domestic violence as something that happens between adults who are married. But more accurately it is a potential problem for anyone in a dating relationship—and increasingly that includes teens.
Spreading awareness of this problem is the goal of National Teen Dating Awareness Month, which is recognized in February.
Ohio is beginning to come to grips with the problem of teen dating violence: recently, the state legislature, with my support, enacted legislation that will require schools to teach teens about dating violence. That’s a good first step, but it is still important that adults find ways to reach out to teens who might be in trouble.
It is hard to say exactly how widespread teen dating violence is, although it appears to affect many teens. The National Teen Dating Abuse hotline – www.LoveIsRespect.org – has gathered some statistics:
• One in five teens who have been in a serious relationship reported being hit, slapped or pushed by a partner;
• One in three girls who have been in a serious relationship said they have been concerned about being physically hurt by their partner;
• One in four teens who have been in a serious relationship say their boyfriend or girlfriend has tried to prevent them from spending time with friends or family.
With this many teens potentially affected, you very well might come across someone in this situation either at work or at home who needs help.
Recognizing the signs of abuse in teen relationships can be challenging, in part because teens might not realize they are being abused. For instance, teens are among the heaviest users of text messaging, and abusers may try to control their victim through texts. Constant phone calls or 24/7 text messages like “Where are you?” and “You better IM me back or else” could be signs of controlling behavior and emotional abuse.
Teens, just like adults, might show changes in mood or appearance that could be the sign of abuse, or they might dress inappropriately for the weather in order to cover up signs of violence.
Ask questions about what’s going on in the lives of the teens you care about. Listen to the answers with an open mind: Teens can be wary of adults overreacting and denying them access to their social network and friends. Be open-minded and let them speak freely, and when they do ask for help, be there for them without being judgmental. Remind them that although relationships can be difficult, love is not abuse.
Teens can get help from the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline, which can be reached at (866) 331-9474. They also have trained Peer Advocates available to chat online with teens from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m., again at www.LoveIsRespect.org.
As always, we encourage you to learn about how you can help all the victims of domestic violence by attending a Cut It Out training, which are held across the state. If you would like to schedule or attend a training, please call my office at (800) 582-2877 or visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/ CutItOut.
Looking for past Board News? Visit the archives page.
Ohio State Board of Cosmetology
1929 Gateway Circle
Grove City, Ohio 43123
Local: (614) 466-3834
Statewide: 1-866-642-6723
Fax: (614) 644-6880
E-mail: ohcosbd@cos.state.oh.us
http://cos.ohio.gov
Board Members:
Steve Thompson, Chairman, Independent Contractor
Daisy Rickman, Cosmetologist & Salon Owner
NeCole Cumberlander, School Owner
Kimberly Thomas, Salon Owner
Dr. Marilyn Huheey, Medical Doctor
Bernadine Neal, Cosmetology Instructor
Delores Gillis, Cosmetologist
Charles Penzone, Cosmetologist & Salon Owner
Dr. Milroy Samuel, General Public
