February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. To get the word out about this very serious subject, the domestic violence help center, A Better Way in Victorville, CA, is hosting it’s second annual poster contest!
The Black Voice News says:
The poster contest is open to all high school students. The theme is “Teen Dating Violence”. The Grand Prize is $300, 2nd place is $200 and 3rd place is $100. All entries must be received by January 31, 2013.
All of the contest forms and guidelines are available online. For more information call A Better Way at (760) 955-8010.
A bit about teen dating violence from A Better Way:
NOW FOR SOME STATS…
Dating Violence iscontrolling, abusive, and aggressive behaviourin a “romantic” relationship. It occurs in both heterosexual AND homosexual relationships and can includeVERBAL,EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL OR SEXUAL ABUSE, OR A COMBINATION OF THESE BEHAVIOURS.
ONE OF FIVE TEENS IN A SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP REPORTS HAVING BEEN HIT, SLAPPED, OR PUSHED BY A PARTNER
YOUNG WOMEN, AGES 16-24, EXPERIENCE THE HIGHEST RATES OF RELATIONSHIP VIOLENCE
ROUGHLY ONE IN 10 (9%) OF TEENS HAS BEEN VERBALLY OR PHYSICALLY ABUSED BY A BOYFRIEND OR GIRLFRIEND WHO WAS DRUNK OR HIGH
FOURTEEN PERCENT OF TEENS REPORT HAVING BEEN THREATENED WITH PHYSICAL HARM–EITHER TO THEM ORSELF-INFLICTED BY THEIR PARTNER TO AVOID A BREAKUP