California Partnership to End Domestic Violence Prevention ...

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAPM) ? a national effort to raise awareness about abuse in youth relationships and mobilize communities to support young people in having safe and healthy relationships. Sadly, just as the month began, Myrna Umanzor, 15, a teen from San Leandro, California was murdered, allegedly by her 19 year old boyfriend, who took his own life the next day. The loss of life in San Leandro is another tragic wakeup call to communities across the state to strengthen efforts to address teen dating violence, also known as dating abuse.

What is dating abuse?

Dating abuse is the use of physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, or technological abuse by a person to harm, threaten, intimidate, or control a dating partner, regardless of whether that relationship is continuing or has concluded, or the number of interactions between the individuals involved. Dating abuse is associated with a host of adverse outcomes, including truancy, use of alcohol and drugs, eating disorders, depression and suicide. Adolescents and young adults experience the highest degree of intimate violence of any age group. And while young people from all races, class backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities can be abused, young women ages 16-24 are most likely to be targeted for violence.

Yet, the distinctive aspects of dating abuse make it one of the most overlooked forms of violence. Many young victims do not recognize warning signs and confuse controlling behaviors as a sign of care. Fear and shame discourage victims from seeking help, and when they do, adults often minimize the potential for harm, unaware of the danger of increasing frequency and severity of abuse over time, and the heightened risk for physical violence during or after a break up.

Talking about healthy relationships and dating abuse with youth

Ongoing conversations about healthy relationships with young people are vitally important, and should reinforce the right to have boundaries respected and to be free from control from a dating partner. It?s important to model and teach how emotions and conflict can be addressed while respecting boundaries and the right to a partner?s autonomy. Intervene early in warning sign behavior, and emphasize the importance of keeping ties with friends and caring adults when in a relationship. (Isolation from family and friends is a warning sign behavior.)

Young people who are being abused may not identify their experience as abuse. When speaking with adolescents, it?s important to assure confidentiality, be non-judgmental and empathetic, apply harm reduction principles, and have current information for referral agencies and community resources on hand. And remember, during and after a break-up is the most dangerous time when the likelihood of physical violence increases.

What you can do

• Spread the word! Sample TDVAPM Facebook posts and Twitter tweets can be found at www.cpedv.org/tdvapm.
• Build your knowledge! Online professional learning opportunities during February can be found here.
• Educate and engage teens and parents! Useful websites with resources can be found at www.cpedv.org/tdvapm.
• Strengthen partnerships! Year round, we encourage youth, parents, schools, community groups and other stakeholders to partner to foster community environments that support safe and healthy youth relationships free from violence.
• Stay Connected! Sign up for the Partnership?s Prevention Digest to stay abreast of teen dating violence?prevention projects, resources and opportunities in California.

Finally, if?you?know?of?a?teen,?parent?or concerned friend that?could?benefit?from?speaking?to?a?caring,?well-trained peer advocate,?please?connect?them?with?the?National?Dating?Abuse?Helpline,?at 866-331-9474?(TTY:?1-866-331-8453), by texting ?loveis? to 77054, or through live?chat?at?www.loveisrespect.org.About the Partnership: The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence is a statewide membership coalition working to end all forms of domestic violence. The Partnership's Prevention Program?advances effective teen dating violence prevention policies and programs through leadership, advocacy?and a statewide network of prevention advocates dedicated to?promoting?healthy relationships and preventing teen dating violence. For more information, contact Lisa Fujie Parks, Prevention Program Manager, at lisa@cpedv.org or 916-444-7163 x117.

Source: http://preventionprogramcpedv.blogspot.com/2012/02/drawing-attention-to-teen-dating.html

keri russell jesse ventura casey anthony bill o brien will kopelman portland trailblazers joseph kennedy iii