During the month, advocates and practitioners will be educating teens and their parents that domestic violence is not a problem just for adults but can be common in teen dating relationships as well.
Recognizing abuse in a relationship is difficult, especially for teens. Some teens think certain types of abuse are normal in a relationship, or think it is “not that big of a deal.” Teens experience the same types of physical, sexual, verbal and emotional abuse that adults do in abusive relationships.
“We want every teen and adult to know that they are valued as human beings and should not tolerate abuse in their relationship,” said Marie White, director of the Mecklenburg County CSS Women’s Commission. “By taking time to highlight teen dating violence month in February, we hope to educate them and their parents about what they can do to spot violence in a relationship, and stop it before it is too late.”
The Women’s Commission has compiled a listing of many resources for teens and their families to use this month, and all year, to avoid dating violence. The resources can be found at the Women’s Commission website and include facts about teen dating violence, how to break the cycle of violence, how to help a teen in an abusive relationship, and much more.
These resources are offered to the community to gain a better understanding of teen dating violence and ways in which people can help raise the awareness of the problem as well as help those in need.
For more information on the effects of domestic violence in our community, call Community Support Services at (704) 432-SAFE (7233), CSS Women’s Commission at (704) 336-3210, or United Family Services' Shelter for Battered Women 24-hour hot line at (704) 332-2513.