Kelseyville >> February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. The month is a national effort to raise awareness and protect teens from violence. More than 1 out of every 10 teens, who have been on a date in the past year, have been physically abused.
This year’s theme for the month is “Love is Setting Boundaries.” Love is respect and all teenagers need to know how to identify or answer two questions. What is Love? What is a healthy relationship? This awareness is necessary to prevent teens from violence. Defining boundaries is a sign of respect for oneself. With awareness, teens are able to identify boundaries more easily when they are being violated. Boundaries are personal to each individual, which is why it’s important to foster healthy communication between partners. Awareness is necessary because it provides knowledge and perception of a situation or fact-consciousness, recognition and realization. The facts are that nearly 1.5 million High School students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner each year; 1 in 3 adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, verbal or emotional abuse from a dating situation; Girls and young women between the ages of 16-24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence—almost triple the national average. 81 percent of parents surveyed either believe teen dating violence is not an issue or admit they don’t know if it’s an issue.
Violent relationships in teens can have serious ramifications by putting victims at higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior and further domestic violence. Teen dating violence runs across race, gender, and socioeconomic lines, and this insidious epidemic can affect anyone. Both males and females can be victims, and both males and females can be abusers. Family Advocates at Lake Family Resource Center believe there is a need to build communities with commitment to safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments. Everyone could use more knowledge, wisdom, understanding and awareness on Teen Dating Violence. The ultimate goal is to stop Teen Dating Violence before it begins.
Lake Family Resource Center encourages teens and parents to speak out, educate teens, be heard and be a part of bringing Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month to the fore-front and make it effective. If you are or someone you know is in an abusive dating relationship, free and confidential help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, through the Community Crisis Hotline, at (888) 485-7733.
Lake Family Resource Center is determined to raise awareness of the devastation that domestic violence has had in communities and will continue to provide education, information, advocacy and support to those who have suffered.
Lake FRC provides a multitude of services to build family stability and strength. The agency supports Lake County residents in achieving stable, self-sufficient, and healthy families and communities. Call today at 707-279-0563 to find out more about what they offer.
