NHV STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
PARENTS’ PAGES
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
Teen Dating Violence
Awareness and Prevention Month Kick.pdf
Teen dating violence is a sad but very real issue that our teens face. February is Teen
Dating Violence Awareness month. According to statistics from February 2006, “1.5
million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner
in a single year”. A 2008 study shows that “one in three girls in the US is a victim of
physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner”.
Dating violence is something that teens often have difficulty defining because they shrug
off many of the behaviors as “normal” or isolated incidences. Here is some information
to help define what dating violence behaviors can look like.
·
What is Dating Violence?
Dating violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors used to exert power and control
over a dating partner.
·
A Pattern of Behavior
Calling dating violence a pattern doesn't mean the first instance of abuse is not
dating violence. It just recognizes that dating violence usually involves a series of
abusive behaviors over a course of time.
Every relationships is different, but the one thing that is common to most abusive
dating relationships is that the violence escalates over time and becomes more and
more dangerous for the young victim.
·
Who Experiences Dating Violence?
Any teen or young adult can experience violence, abuse or unhealthy behaviors in
their dating relationships. A relationship may be serious or casual, monogamous or
not, short-term or long-term. Dating abuse does not discriminate – it does not see
gender, sexual identity, economic status, ethnicity or religious preference. See
more of the statistics on dating violence.
·
What Does Dating Violence Look Like?
Teens and young adults experience the same types of abuse in relationships as
adults. This can include:
o Physical Abuse: Any intentional use of physical force with the intent to
cause fear or injury, like hitting, shoving, biting, strangling, kicking or
using a weapon.
o Verbal or Emotional Abuse: Non-physical behaviors such as threats,
insults, constant monitoring, humiliation, intimidation, isolation or stalking.
o Sexual Abuse: Any action that impacts a person’s ability to control their
sexual activity or the circumstances in which sexual activity occurs,
including rape, coercion or restricting access to birth control.
o Digital Abuse: Use of technologies and/or social media networking to
intimidate, harass or threaten a current or ex-dating partner. This could
include demanding passwords, checking cell phones, cyber bullying,
sexting, excessive or threatening texts or stalking on Facebook or other
social media.
If you or a loved one is in a violent relationship, please get help.
Visit loveisrespect (Link is active) for more information, chat with a peer advocate
online (link is active), call 866.331.9474 or text "loveis" to 22522.
·
Ten Warning Signs of Abuse
While there are many warning signs of abuse, here are ten common abusive
behaviors:
o Checking your cell phone or email without permission
o Constantly putting you down
o Extreme jealousy or insecurity
o Explosive temper
o Isolating you from family or friends
o Making false accusations
o Mood swings
o Physically hurting you in any way
o Possessiveness
o Telling you what to do
If you believe that your child or someone you may know is a victim of dating violence
there are resources locally and nationally you can reach out to. You can also reach out to
your local police department if you believe someone is in immediate danger.
Safe in Hunterdon
47 East Main St
Flemington, NJ 08822
Phone: (908) 788-7666
Hotline: 1--888--988--4033
Loveisrespect.org
http://www.loveisrespect.org/
Live chat with Peer Advocate available online
Text Support-text “loveis” to 22522
Call: 1-866-331-9474
****In recognition of Teen Dating Violence Awareness, Girls Scouts Cadette Troop
81256 is sponsoring a kickoff event. Please see information attached.
For support services or additional information, please reach out to the Student Assistance
Counselor in your school.
Sincerely,
Tara Kraatz, SAC
Jeff Hunt, SAC
North Hunterdon High School
Voorhees High School
Tara Kraatz
Student Assistance Coordinator
Director of Student Activities
Anti-Bullying Specialist
North Hunterdon High School
1445 Rt. 31
Annandale, NJ 08801
908-713-4167
Jeffrey M. Hunt, LCADC, LPC
Student Assistance Coordinator
Voorhees High School
256 Route 513
Glen Gardner, NJ 08826
(908) 638-2175
http://www.nhvweb.net/vhs/guidance/jhunt/default.htm