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February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. One in 10 high school students has been hit, slapped or physically hurt by a dating partner. This adds up to nearly 1.5 million high school students each year experiencing physical abuse from a dating partner a year. Of those students, only 33% of teens who are in abusive relationships ever tell anyone. Teens often don’t know how to initiate the conversation or are unaware they are in an abusive situation. We encourage you to make time to discuss this issue with your teens.
Last month we provided all of the seniors with a program on this topic. Students learned about a former Chantilly student, who was killed by her boyfriend. The family of the victim started Dating Abuse Stops Here. The website is an excellent resource for further discussion with your own teens. During the presentation we highlighted what defines a HEALTHY relationship.
Healthy Partners Should:
- Bring happiness
- Appreciate and celebrate your family and friends
- Bring comfort
- Boost your confidence and make you feel good about yourself
- Grow and change together
- Be positive
- Have down/alone time
- Embrace each other’s schedules
- Value each other’s opinions
- Respect each other’s privacy
Additional Resources:
- loveisrespect - www.loveisrespect.org
- 1-866-331-9474 Text: loveis to 22522
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
- Virginia Family Violence & Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-838-8238
www.datingabusestopshere.com
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