As child support professionals, we know that more than 1 in 3 young parents in our program have experienced domestic violence. We know the challenges they face when trying to get financial support from someone who harms them. OCSS trains child support staff to recognize domestic violence in their caseload and respond to safety concerns.
Our domestic violence training includes a wide range of statistics on intimate partner violence. The one statistic that surprises most staff is that women are three times more likely to experience domestic violence between the ages of 16 and 24 than any other time. In fact, for women who are harmed by intimate partners, more than 60% will first experience abuse between the ages of 11 and 24. The comments from child support professionals in the DV training sound like these:
- That’s my daughter’s age.
- I have two granddaughters under 24.
- I’m worried about the relationship my teen daughter is in.
- Can you send me resources on how to talk to my teenager about dating violence?
These comments are a good reminder that violence in relationships isn’t limited to those in our program. It can extend to others close to us… our colleagues, our children, our grandchildren.
Tools to support healthy relationships
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. A great way to encourage healthy relationships is by using the ACF-funded resource Love is Respect (loveisrespect.org ). This project provides youth with resources and guidance on healthy dating relationships and tools to identify and escape from unhealthy or abusive relationships. The website has information for parents and other adults who want to help teens in their lives but don’t know what to say or how to start a conversation. Youth and adults can also talk with trained teen dating violence experts by calling 1.866.331.9474 or texting LOVEIS to 22522.
It’s important that youth have open, honest conversations about relationships with the trusted adults in their lives. You can be that trusted adult. I’m grateful that ACF and Love is Respect are working to make these important conversations easier.
To request domestic violence training for your child support program, email Michael.Hayes@acf.hhs.gov.
Tanguler Gray, Commissioner
This blog gives the commissioner a forum to communicate directly with child support professionals and other partners about relevant topics. The Commissioner’s Voice is reprinted from the February 2024 Child Support Report newsletter.