USDOJ: Office on Violence Against Women: Teen Dating Violence

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2009 OVW Tribal Consultation Dates Announced

Presentation on the Kentucky Civil Protective Order Study

Combating teen dating violence is a priority for OVW. OVW recognizes teens face unique challenges as they begin dating and exploring intimate partner relationships. According to the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, approximately 10 percent of adolescents nationwide reported being the victim of physical violence at the hands of a romantic partner during the previous year . Education and awareness are critical to the prevention and detection of this serious crime.

National Public Awareness Campaign
In early 2009, OVW plans to launch a national public awareness campaign targeting teens and youth. Please continue to check OVW's website for more information about this campaign.

New Programs
OVW is pleased to announce that we will be administering two new programs, Engaging Men & Youth and Services to Advocate for Youth, authorized by VAWA 2005. These programs are still under development. Please continue to check OVW's website for more solicitation postings and more information regarding this new program.

Resources

OVW Director Cindy Dyer held a web conference to commemorate Domestic Violence Awareness Month and to preview the upcoming OVW-funded campaign to prevent teen dating violence launching in early 2009. The web conference reviewed the research shaping the new campaign, including qualitative research on social norms and dating behaviors among teens.

Esta Soler and Brian O'Connor from the Family Violence Prevention Fund and Jim Therkalsen from R/GA Digital Advertising Agency joined Director Cindy Dyer for an overview of elements of this innovative campaign.

You can view the entire web conference recording, view slides from the presentations, and download handouts from the Prevention Connection website.

For more information, the National Institute of Justice Journal features the article "Teen Dating Violence: A Closer Look at Adolescent Relationships" examining the complex nature of teen dating violence.

OVW's Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week Poster

This week we focus our attention on how dating violence affects our pre-teens and teenagers and we encourage our partners in the field to take solid steps to prevent it. According to the Center for Disease Control's 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, approximately 10 percent of adolescents nationwide reported being the victim of physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner during the previous year.

We need to come together to help teens who face these unique challenges as they begin dating and exploring relationships. To intervene and prevent the cycle of violence, it is important to educate teens about healthy relationships and help them identify services available to them if they experience a physically or emotionally abusive relationship.

Join OVW and our partners in raising awareness that intimate partner violence affects everyone, including teenagers in each of our communities.

Links:
Download OVW's Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week Poster
National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline
Break the Cycle
Family Violence Prevention Fund's Teen Program
Senate Resolution 710 Designating the week of February 2 through February 6, 2009, as "National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week"


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