Awareness Focus


February 14th is Valentine’s Day. Fun, happy, loving…but what if it isn’t?

For some teens it is a reminder that their dating experience became a nightmare. Love is respect and Love should not hurt. Those are phrases we frequently use here at Hope’s Door to help adults and teens to recognize that any type of abuse in a relationship is unacceptable. 1 in 12 U.S. high school students experience physical or sexual violence in a dating relationship. 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys experience physical or sexual violence in an intimate relationship. According to a national survey of youth, 68% of teens experience educational interference, 67% experienced job interference, and 65% experienced financial control. 1 in 3 homicides in girls aged 11-18 are committed by an intimate partner.

Here are some things you can do to help prevent teen dating violence:

1. Teach safe and healthy relationship skills

2. Engage influential adults and peers

3. Create protective environments

4. Support survivors to increase safety and lessen harm

5. Parents can assist a youth in setting good expectations and boundaries prior to beginning to date.

6. Dating alone can be preceded by dating in group settings to decrease the incidents of abuse

7. Parents should make sure their teen is involved in healthy group settings in church, school, and community.

If you or someone you know is experiencing violence or abuse or is a survivor

of teen dating violence, please consider the resources below:

The National Dating Abuse Helpline. This is a service of Love Is Respect.

It is a 24 hour resource specifically designed for teens and young adults.

CALL : 1-866-331-9474

TEXT : ‘LOVE IS’ to 22522

CHAT: https;//www.loveisrespect.org/get-relationship-help/

The National Domestic Violence Hotline- 1.800.799.SAFE (7233)

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