Hello friends! Because February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, I wanted to share resources that support this national effort to raise awareness and protect teens from violence. Annually, 10 percent of DC high schoolers report physical and sexual victimization from a dating partner. In this newsletter, I provide guidance on the school community’s role in protecting survivors and preventing teen dating violence before it begins. 

Preventing teen dating violence. This resource from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes behaviors that constitute intimate partner violence between teens. It also details the prevalence of teen dating violence, along with the mental and physical consequences that survivors of teen dating violence face. 

Physical Dating Violence and Suicide Risk among LGBTQ Youth. This article from the Trevor Project describes trends in data on dating violence among LGBTQ youth. The piece examines data to identify disproportionality in dating violence by age, gender identity, and race/ethnicity. The piece also discusses whom LGBTQ youth generally approach to report dating violence.  

Dating Violence Prevention. This resource from Youth.gov describes physical, emotional, and sexual teen dating violence. It also describes the importance of creating safe and supportive spaces in teens’ communities to reduce risk factors for dating violence. 

Teen Dating Violence Resources. This resource includes helplines, contact information for dating violence prevention networks, and information about additional campaigns aimed at preventing teen dating violence.