Orange the World: Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
Orange the World: Park City High School social justice club End Violence Now prepares for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
Orange is the awareness color for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) and Peace House Park City High School social justice club End Violence Now is gearing up! In early January students created a Public Service Announcement with KPCW which will run 13 times in the first two weeks of February. This English/Spanish PSA let’s youth in our community know there is help for those in unsafe relationships.
Dating violence disproportionately affects teens and young adults. “22% of women and 15% of men first experienced some form of partner violence between 11 and 17 years of age (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Division of Violence Prevention) “This translates into an astounding 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year. Not only teens but those who support teens need to know about the complex abuse dynamics. Often the root cause of absenteeism, drug and alcohol use, and teen depression is teen dating violence.
One of the top concerns expressed by youth is that dating abuse will be disclosed to their parents and/or Child Protective Services, or that their partners will be notified thus subjecting them to more abuse. Most teens are dating someone in their school. So, it is more difficult for them to end relationships and to end all contact with an unsafe partner.
On Wednesday, January 22 EVN will be creating orange tie-dyed t-shirts to be worn and given away at Orange Day Teen Chat and at lunch time information via trivia campaigns at lunch. Students will host a wheel of fortune. Students can select a question category, short answer, t/f, etc. and win a prize.
On Wednesday, February 12th adults in the community will get an opportunity to learn directly from peer mentors, teen council students at the Summit County Domestic Violence Coalition Lunch and Learn. 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. Adults who can recognize the signs of teen dating violence are in a unique position to support a youth who is navigating an unhealthy or dangerous relationship.
Violent relationships in adolescence can have serious ramifications by putting the youth at risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior, further domestic violence, depression and suicidality. At Orange Day Teen Chat specialists on the subject of dating and violence, LGBTQI + relationship concerns, depression and peer led presentation on dating decisions all come together to share information to and field questions from teens. This will be a seriously fun informational opportunity with games, prizes, music and snacks.