Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Every year, approximately 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner. It is also known that 3 in 4 parents have never talked to their children about domestic violence.

At the Boys & Girls Club we are programming and working towards educating teens by offering this spring a program at the Club called Safe Date.  Safe Date is for both boys & girls and it focused on what dating abuse is, signs of dating abuse and steps to take if it happens to you.

 Here are some tips of what you can to as a guardian/caregiver/parent to prevent dating abuse:

·        Model healthy relationships at home

·        Talk with your teen as early as possible, about healthy relationships and positive ways to resolve conflict

·        Emphasize that abuse isn’t love

·        Reinforce the importance of getting help if he or she is ever concerned about a dating partner

·        Build your child’s self-esteem

·        Keep communication channels open

Some warning signs of dating abuse can include:

·        Has a dating partner who is intensely jealous or possessive

·        Has unexplained marks on his or her body (bruises, scratches, burns)

·        Is always deferring to his or her partners wishes

·        Is increasingly isolated from family and friends

·        Gets visibly upset after phone calls or dates with his or her dating partner

·        Is afraid of making his or her partner angry

For more resources and information, check out: http://www.nrcdv.org/dvam/tdvam. BE Safe, BE Kind and BE Great!

 Vanessa Merhib

Executive Director