Agenda
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Project History
Description of project
Project accomplishments
Next Steps
Lessons learned
Instruction and the Attorney
General formed the
School/Law Enforcement
Partnership to provide
leadership in promoting safe
schools and to preserved this
important constitutional right.
Legislative Action
The Interagency School Safety
Demonstration Act of 1985 was passed by the
California Legislature to encourage school
districts, county offices of education, law
enforcement agencies and youth services
agencies to develop programs and activities
to improve school attendance and aid in the
reduction of school crime and violence.
The Partnership
• The Superintendent
of Public Instruction
provides leadership
to California schools
through the
California
Department of
Education
• The Attorney General
serves as the chief law
enforcement officer of
California and carries
out the responsibilities
of the office through the
California Department
of Justice
Partnership Goals
• The Partnership’s goal is to encourage schools and
assist law enforcement agencies to develop and
implement interagency partnerships, programs,
strategies and activities which promote safe schools,
improve school attendance, and encourage good
citizenship.
Teen Dating Violence Program
Collaborative Partners
• California Office of Education
• California Attorney General’s Office
• Peace Over Violence
Teen Dating Violence Program
• Objective
Teen Dating Violence provides
statewide training to school
administrators on the the basic
concepts of TDV, it’s impact on school
behaviors, key strategies for school
based TDV prevention and policy and
protocol development
Why this intervention?
• Utilize key decision makers in TD and
SV prevention
• Build relationships with systems that
serve youth
• Pool resources to expand influence
• Build awareness and momentum
throughout the state
Process (overview of project
activities)
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Produce position paper
Conduct key informant interviews
Develop training content and materials
Conduct trainings
Produce TD and SV resource packet
Provide technical assistance
Build community support
Key Informant Interviews
Populations Represented
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Nine (9) educators/persons employed by educational entities including
school districts, middle and high schools, and county offices of
education.
One (1) representative from a law enforcement agency.
Five (5) teen dating violence prevention educators and/or youth
organizers.
Two (2) respondents represent statewide policy/advocacy
organizations.
Two (2) students
One (1) parent
Teen Dating Violence—Definitions and
Occurrence
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All the respondents include physical, sexual and emotional or
psychological abuse such as intimidation and manipulation in their
definition of teen dating violence.
All respondents agree that the youth they serve experience or have
been exposed to teen dating violence.
Teen dating violence occurs frequently and with some intensity
according to the majority of participants.
Respondents report frequent instances of lower intensity physical
abuse such as pushing and shoving and more intermittent incidents of
higher intensity behaviors such as punching, kicking and sexual
assault.
• I believe that thousands of youths experience this violence but
often tell no one and receive inadequate assistance/therapy.
Effect of Teen Dating Violence on Students
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Academic affects include poor concentration, inability to focus on schoolwork,
tardiness, truancy, and even dropping out of school.
Non-academic effects include drug and or alcohol abuse, depression, teen
pregnancy, suicidality, self-harm, animal abuse, involvement in other types of
violence, and compromised ability to maintain close relationships or trust others.
If behavior is tolerated in adolescence it can distort normal emotional
development and set the stage for continued violence in adulthood.
• Like others who are affected by violence, students
become fearful, focused on self-preservation instead of
academics, they may become depressed or distracted,
they may miss school to avoid the violence or because of
shame or injury.
Effect of Teen Dating Violence on School
Safety and Liability
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Teen dating violence undermines attempts to create a positive learning
environment and a safe place in which to learn.
Teen dating violence increases tension on campus and promotes a culture of
tolerance for violence and disrespect for individuals.
Threats of violence go beyond the victim and aggressor to include other
stakeholders such as friends and siblings.
Teen dating violence poses a risk in that failure to provide a safe learning
environment or report violence exposes a school to civil liability.
• Students who abuse their partners may possess anger or
other behavioral problems that cause them to also be
violent or abusive toward their peers or teachers.
• Last year we had a student that we were afraid would
hurt himself or his girlfriend and we almost had to go on
lockdown. I think TDV is the third or fourth biggest threat
to school safety.
Intervention, Prevention and Policy
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Policy should include a definition of teen dating violence and related behavior, a
clear description of community standards, guidelines for reporting unlawful
activity to a law enforcement agency, methods for victim support, consequences
for perpetrators of violence.
Schools should partner with existing domestic violence agencies in order to
provide individual and group counseling to victims, perpetrators, bystanders and
parents.
Schools should introduce teen dating violence prevention education for students
and teachers.
Counselors and administrators need to be trained on teen dating violence
dynamics, laws and resources so that they are able to respond to incidents on
campus or involving students.
• Schools need to provide programs and course work that
focuses on prevention and elimination of teen dating
violence and that teach youth about respect, safety, and
the law.
• This type of behavior in almost all instances is in violation
Training Recommendations
Overview of training content
• Overview of dating and sexual violence
among teens
• Identify the impact of TDV and SA on
academic achievement and school
safety
• Identify school based strategies for
prevention
Key Prevention Components
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Education and Training
Community Partnerships
School Environment
Public Leadership
School Policies
Building New Partnerships
The Partnership
11 California County
Office's of Education
California Attorney General
Peace
Over
Violence
Program Goals
• Provide Level I TDV training to school
superintendents and administrators
statewide
• Provide technical assistance to schools
and aid in the development of TDV
policy and protocols
Challenges and Barriers
• Identify TDV as a school safety issues
• Develop a common language
• Provide continuing education
Presentation Outcomes
• Who is the target group?
• Identified need for additional training
• Promote the development of
collaborative relationships on the local
level
Evaluation
• Post training survey
• Identify during telephone interview the
seriousness of TDV as an issue on
campus
– assess the past and current and TDV
training available for students and staff
– assess existing TDV policies on campus
– assess new TDV policy implementation
On going work
• Continue to work with individual
campuses/districts
• Participation in “Decade of Change”
youth panel
• Sponsor TD and SV legislation in CA
Legislation CA AB 589
Lessons learned about this
type of partnership
• Provide opportunities for members to learn
from and support each other
• Common mission and goals
• Agreement on roles of each member
• Mindful of different organizational goals and
cultures
• Equity
• Communication
• Awareness of territoriality
• Importance of relationships