February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), teen dating violence (TDV) is a type of intimate partner violence affecting millions of young people in the United States. TDV can consist of physical violence, sexual violence, psychological aggression, and stalking.
In a study conducted by CDC in 2019, they found the following among high school students in the U.S.:
- About 1 in 12 has experienced physical dating violence
- About 1 in 12 has experienced sexual dating violence
- Female students experience both physical and sexual violence more than male students
- Those in the LGBTQ community were more likely to experience physical and sexual violence in intimate relationships
As an organization working with teens through the Presence of Joy program, we want to provide them with the space and opportunity to recognize and respond to the red flags associated with TDV.
With the support of Dr. Katherine Lorenz, Associate Professor of Criminology and Justice Studies at California State University Northridge, PRESENT NOW held a seminar for the Presence of Joy cohort focusing on teen dating violence.
This seminar was filled with educational content consisting of:
- Red flags and green flags in relationships
- Common misconceptions regarding teen dating violence and domestic violence
- The impacts of violence on the individual, interpersonal, community, and society
- How to understand trauma
- Setting healthy boundaries
- How to take care of themselves and others
During this seminar, we observed our teens’ participation during discussions. Many of the students shared how they related to some of the green flags in their relationships and friendships, and how they set their boundaries with their friends.
We are all so amazed by our amazing teens for sharing and participating in this seminar. We hope to provide more of these opportunities for our students so they can continue to put into practice what they have learned!
For more information and resources about domestic violence, please go to the National Domestic Violence Hotline website.
To learn more about our Presence of Joy program, click here.
