“One in 10 high school students
has been purposefully hit,
slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or
girlfriend.”
By
Toni A. Smith
Although
Domestic Violence Awareness Month has ended, the work to prevent domestic
violence continues. In Reach’s Youth Ambassadors at
Parkdale High School are gearing up to implement the initial stages of their Crossroads Project. The Crossroads Project addresses teen
dating violence and teen parenting. At full implementation, the Crossroads Project will consist of an awareness
assembly, educational and outreach materials, and an informative and engaging
resource and referral website focusing on Prince George’s County teens.
Staggering statistics tell us
§
Girls and
young women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of
intimate partner violence -- almost triple the national average.
§
Violent
behavior typically begins between the ages of 12 and 18.
§
The severity
of intimate partner violence is often greater in cases where the pattern of
abuse was established in adolescence.
§
About 72% of
eighth and ninth graders are “dating”.
§
Nearly 1.5
million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating
partner in a single year.
The
Youth Ambassadors selected dating violence and parenting issues out of concern for
the dating experiences and choices their friends are making. Research
tells us that only 33% of teens who were in a violent relationship ever told
anyone about the abuse and a teen’s confusion about the law and their desire
for confidentiality are two of the most significant barriers stopping young
victims of abuse from seeking help. Incidents
of dating violence are happening in their peer group more than adults know. Eighty
one percent of parents believe teen dating violence is not an issue or admit
they don’t know if it’s an issue. Youth Ambassadors also feel that the young parents they know do not receive
enough support to keep them in school, even when they want to be there.
Using the performing arts and
technology, Youth Ambassadors will launch the Crossroads Project with their True
Love, True Reality Awareness Assembly.
The assembly will highlight the warning signs of domestic violence, where teens
can go and who they can talk to if they are currently in a domestic violence situation,
and information on making better and
healthier lifestyle choices.
In
preparation for the Crossroads Project,
Ambassadors disseminated a survey to their peers in 2010. A follow-up survey is
currently underway. Based on 188 responses, when asked
§
if they knew
someone who has experienced dating violence, half (51%) of the students
responded “yes”
§
about the gender of
the person experiencing the dating violence, almost half (45%) reported female
§
do you think your
school/community would benefit from having a “safe” place for teens
experiencing or who have experienced dating violence, 68% responded “yes”
§
do you know someone
still in high school who has a baby, an overwhelming 92% responded “yes”
The
True Love, True Reality Awareness Assembly
will be presented in 2012.
For more information on teen dating violence, visit www.loveisrespect.org (@loveisrespect). If you know a pregnant or teen parent who is in need of help, contact St. Ann’s Teen Mother-Baby Program, 301.559.5500, www.stanns.org.
Data from www.loveisrespect.org,
except where indicated.
