Dating Violence

Poster Contest

About one in three high school students have been or will be involved in an abusive relationship. That is why we need your help. Enter our statewide Teen Dating Violence Poster Contest and help us educate the public about teen dating abuse. Create a poster that educates others with a message about the issue of teen dating violence. The winning design will be featured in schools, government buildings, newspapers and our website. Check out the rules: www.mcedv.org/teen

More than half of America's teens know friends who have experienced some sort of dating abuse, while nearly three in four say that physical dating violence is a serious concern for their age group, according to a survey sponsored by Liz Claiborne Inc and conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited. In many situations, teens do not recognize they are being abused until serious emotional and/or physical damage is done. Teenagers have the right to safety and to experience healthy relationships. Teen dating violence can be as serious as domestic abuse. It may include hitting, yelling, threatening, name calling, and other forms of verbal, sexual, emotional, and physical abuse. The number of incidents and the severity of the abuse increases as the relationship continues. Very few teens tell someone else, ask for help. In a violent relationship, one partner chooses to maintain power and control over the other through abuse. Dating violence happen in all kinds of relationships. MCEDV member projects advocate for and educate teens, teachers, parents or other concerned people about dating violence.

Red Flags

It is impossible to say for sure who will or won’t abuse their partner. Below you will find a list of behavior that are common among abusers or batterers.

Does your partner…

You may have answered YES to some of these question and still think “It’s not that bad”, however, you should never feel scared, pressured, humiliated or controlled by someone else. You should feel loved, respected, and free to be yourself. Your feelings are important. Advocates at your local domestic violence project are willing listen 24-hours a day.

Is a friend being abused? See 10 ways to help a Friend who is Being Abused.

Why Teens Don’t Tell Friends or Parents about Dating Violence

They are:

They:

Safety Planning

Safety planning with teens is much the same as safety planning with adults. However, it is important to keep in mind that teenagers live and move in different places than adults. Their abusive partner may be a classmate, teammate, family member, neighbor, or parent of their child. Safety plans for teenagers may include issues of safety at school, parties, part-time jobs, in their homes, with friends, at school activities and in their neighborhoods. If the teenager is living at home they may have little control over their day-to-day lives. Teens have less control over aspects of their lives such as phone privileges, finances, daily routines, car use, where they live, what they wear and many other issues. Many teenagers spend more time with friends than with their family or adults. Exploring ways that teenagers can be safe with their friends and get help from their friends may be useful.

You should think ahead about ways to be safe if you are in a dangerous or potentially dangerous relationship. Check out our safety planning section, but also consider these points when creating a safety plan for a teen.

Support and Education for Teenagers at MCEDV Projects

All MCEDV member projects work in area schools and other alternative settings to educate students and individuals or institutions serving youth about teen dating violence and healthy relationships. Many presentations are aligned with the “key concepts” and “content areas” mandated for comprehensive school health education. Below is a list of programs provided:

Middle School: An assortment of activities used to show students how to communicate their feelings and how they can model healthy behaviors.

High School: Educational programs use a variety of methods to teach how to define healthy or unhealthy adolescent dating relationships, how to identify the red flags of abusive behavior and access community resources and how support a peer who may be a victim of abuse.

On-Site Advocacy and Group Support: All Projects are willing to go into schools to provide advocacy or group support.

Faculty, Staff & Board Trainings: Trainings are designed to provide faculty/staff with information on how to intervene in abusive behavior, what community resources are available, and how to create a non-oppressive school environment.

Legal Advocacy: Contact the member project serving your area for help with protection orders and other legal problems.

24-Hour Helpline: Whether you have questions about your relationships or if you are looking to help a friend, call your local domestic violence project.

Programs look different everywhere, some projects provide: elementary education; bullying and conflict resolution education; and programs to encourage youth to educate their peers.

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