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February is Teen Dating Awareness Month
Each year about one in four teens report being the
victim of verbal, physical, emotional or sexual violence
from a dating partner. The impact of teen dating
violence is real and can greatly disrupt teens’ healthy
development. Adolescents of dating violence often carry
the unhealthy patterns of abuse into future
relationships. Unfortunately, teen dating violence is
often unnoticed by parents and even unrecognized as
abnormal by those teens experiencing it. Collaborative
efforts are currently underway, engaging a broad
spectrum of community partners to identify, curb and
prevent teen dating violence.
In recognition of Teen Dating Awareness Month,
Victim/Witness Division Advocate Candice Allex presented
educational and prevention information to the staff and
female residents of the Miami Valley Juvenile
Rehabilitation Center. MVJRC is a residential community
corrections facility housing juvenile offenders. Teen
girls, especially those incarcerated, often do not
recognize possible abuse in their relationships, and
when they do are reluctant to report it. The
presentation focused on identifying types of dating
violence, the impact it has on young women, and
strategies to end the cycle. In addition to efforts
aimed at educating and empowering the young women, Ms.
Allex also provided the staff at MVJRC with information
on recognizing the signs of abusive relationships, and
working with abused females in an incarcerated setting. |
