According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dating violence can happen to teens in a romantic or sexual relationship anytime, anywhere. However, it doesn’t have to happen at all. A healthy relationship is built on respect and is free of violence. In 2013:
- 21% of girls and 10% of boys dating - reported experiencing physical violence and/or sexual violence from a dating partner in the past 12 months
- 23% of females and 14% of males who ever experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner first experienced some form of partner violence between ages 11 and 17
CDC’s Dating Matters: Strategies to Promote Healthy Teen Relationships initiative promotes nonviolent adolescent relationships in high-risk communities by using comprehensive, evidence-based practices to reduce the burden of teen dating violence. Phyllis Holditch Niolon, PhD, Acting Special Assistant to the Associate Director of Science in the Division of Violence Prevention, CDC says, "It isn’t enough to tell young people not to engage in violent behaviors. We have to teach young people what healthy relationship behaviors are and give them the skills to use them if we want to help them engage in respectful, safe relationships. As parents, educators, and community members, it’s up to us to model respectful relationships and to give adolescents the skills and guidance needed to build respectful, violence-free relationships throughout their lives."
As an organization that envisions a strong public health system with healthy practices, healthy people, and healthy places, the Public Health Foundation (PHF) encourages public health, healthcare, and other professionals to bring attention and awareness to teen dating violence. In an effort to promote respectful teen relationships, PHF is sharing Dating Matters: Understanding Teen Violence Prevention online course. Offered through CDCTRAIN, this free 60-minute, interactive training helps educators, youth-serving organizations, and others working with teens understand the risk factors and warning signs associated with teen dating violence. The program follows a school administrator throughout his day as he highlights what teen dating violence is and how to prevent it through graphic novel scenarios, interactive exercises, and information gathered from leading experts. This course has Continuing Education available; follow the directions on the description to complete the requirements.
Additional resources available through PHF:
Additional resources available from CDC: