This is a widespread problem that can have serious effects. The agency defines teen dating violence as physical, sexual, mental or emotional violence that occurs in a dating relationship. students who said they were dating, 21 percent of girls and 10 percent of boys said they had been victims of physical and/or sexual violence from a dating partner in the previous 12 months, according to the CDC.
The fact sheet also presents CDC's approach to teen dating violence prevention.
For the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), domestic violence has long been a priority area for funding available under the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), which OVC administers.
States and territories are required to allocate a minimum of 10 percent of their VOCA assistance funds to serving victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse, thereby making VOCA funds a primary source of federal support for the more than 1,920 domestic violence programs and shelters in the country.
Frequent exposure to violence in the home not only predisposes children to numerous social and physical problems, but also teaches them that violence is a normal way of life—thereby increasing their risk of becoming society's next generation of victims and abusers.
For more information, please see the Office on Violence Against Women’s Domestic Violence Web page.
"A healthy relationship is built on respect and is free of violence," the CDC said in a news release.