| Teen Dating Violence On-Line Resource Kit
Information for Educators on Teen Dating Violence
Teens between the ages of 16 and 19 are 3.5 times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault (Bureau of Justice Statistics 2001).
Only 6 percent of girls and 11 percent of boys experiencing severe abuse told an authority figure (O’Keefe and Treister 1998).
The types of violence experienced by adolescent boys and girls differs dramatically. Girls were significantly more likely to experience severe physical abuse and sexual assault while boys reported incidents of pinching and scratching (O’Keefe and Treister 1998).
Preventing Teen Dating Violence & Sexual Assault
• The first step towards ending teen dating violence is to promote a safe school environment free of sexual harassment and dating violence. Display posters, educational materials, etc. that demonstrate and promote violence-free relationships.
• Schools should develop school-based teen dating violence prevention and intervention strategies with training and support from experienced practitioners. Involve students in prevention planning and implementation.
• Develop a written school policy on teen dating violence, including guidelines for addressing alleged incidents of dating violence. Train staff on that policy. Visit http://www.doe.mass.edu/hssss/tdv/tdv1.html for a detailed set of recommendations and guidelines.
• Train personnel to identify and appropriately respond to teen dating violence.
• Often, the teens in an abusive relationship attend the same school. This adds safety concerns and complicates legal protections. Keep the teen dating violence victim’s safety in mind when planning.
• Learn teen dating violence warning signs and familiarize yourself with local resources that help victims and abusers.
Recent research with the University of Illinois at Chicago, the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault and the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence has identified elements which increase knowledge and improve understanding of domestic violence and sexual assault. These components demonstrated the highest decreases in acceptance of rape and domestic violence myths.
Here are some key elements of successful teen dating violence and sexual assault prevention efforts:
Content
• Discussing how to help a friend who has been assaulted or abused
• Addressing healthy relationship skills
• Teaching myths and facts about sexual assault and teen dating violence
• Discussing gender roles
Delivery Methods
• More sessions are better than fewer
• Shorter sessions are better than longer
• A male and female team of prevention educators works best
• Younger students change more than older students
Find out where to get help for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors
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