February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

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February 1, 2016

Image of three teen silhouettes on colored backgrounds.

William H. BentleyBy Bill Bentley, Associate Commissioner, Family and Youth Services Bureau

Every February, the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) participates in and promotes Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) to bring attention to teen dating violence (TDV).

Teen dating violence is a very real issue for youth in the United States. Here’s why:

Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner every year
1 in 3 teens has experienced some form of abuse by a dating partner
Runaway and homeless youth service providers estimate that 30-40 percent of youth they serve have experienced relationship abuse
Teens in unhealthy dating relationships may also experience coerced sex or birth control sabotage, increasing the risk of pregnancy

These disconcerting statistics show why we need to focus on TDV here at FYSB and across the Administration on Children, Youth and Families. It is our goal to enhance the health, safety, and wellbeing for all children, youth, and families, including teens experiencing abuse from their dating partners. We do this by supporting grantees that provide services to, advocate for, and promote awareness of teens experiencing abuse.

One of our Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) grantees is the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The Hotline partners with Break the Cycle to run loveisrespect , which provides hotline, online chat, text/messaging, and other resources to address TDV. As a part of TDVAM, loveisrespect’s National Youth Advisory Board is hosting Respect Week from February 8-12. The theme this year is “Love = Setting Boundaries because boundaries are an important part of every healthy relationship.”

To learn about the activities for Respect Week:

Download the guide (PDF);
Join the thunderclap to amplify the impact of loveisrespect’s TDVAM campaign; and
Wear orange on February 9th to show your solidarity on this national day of TDV awareness.

Throughout February, the FVPSA Program’s other resource centers and grantees will be providing webinars, hosting twitter chats, and publishing blogs to promote awareness of TDV. Topics include rethinking mandatory reporting practices, conversations with Latino parents about TDV, engaging youth at the margin and youth activism, supporting LGBTQ youth experiencing TDV, TDV from the perspective of African American males, TDV and boundary setting, and much more. FYSB’s calendar of grantee events is available online. I encourage you to share and join any of the events to increase your knowledge of and engage with others on teen dating violence issues.

Additionally, we will be highlighting on our website a few FVPSA-funded state domestic violence coalitions and grantees that have exciting and innovative campaigns and programs focused on teens and healthy relationships. One of these highlights will feature the Northwest Network of Bi, Trans, Lesbian and Gay Survivors of Abuse, which coordinates LGBTQ youth groups, a Voices in Power project, and an OutSpoken LGBT Youth Speaker’s Bureau. Check out our website throughout the month to read more about these promising programs. And find out what is happening in your state by reaching out to your state, territorial , or tribal domestic violence coalition/organization.

In closing, I want to thank you for all that you do to improve the lives of children, youth and families every day. I believe that teen dating violence is preventable and can be eliminated if we work together. Raising awareness and engaging with one another are just some of the ways in which we can work to put an end to teen dating violence.

Lastly, if you are a teen who is experiencing abuse, or if you know a teen who is being abused, there is help: