About 1/3 of teens who were in an abusive relationship confide in someone. One in three teens experience some form of dating abuse. About 81% of parents believe teen-dating violence isn’t an issue for this generation.
These statistics are the numbers that Safe Community Coalition strives to reduce to 0. Safety Community Coalition is a volunteer-driven organization helping local youth through the struggles of drug abuse, dating violence, alcohol abuse, and more in their everyday lives. The SCC is working extra hard this month, however, because February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. February is the time to learn about what causes teen dating violence and how to stop it.
Co-director David Crystal said that shame and fear are the main reasons why only 1/3 of teens speak out. “If you’re a girl between the ages of 16 and 24, you are always at risk. The only way to stop ten dating violence is to shine a light on it,” saidCrystal.
Along with the Safe Community Coalition, many McLean businesses are also joining the awareness campaign. Books-A-Million is donating a portion of its sales on Feb. 3 om 3-8 pm and Feb. 4 from 12-4pm to SCC’s Healthy Relationships Programs. J Gilberts Restaurant inMcLeanwill hang an SCC banner in front the restaurant and there will be a Chicken Out event on Feb. 4 from 12-8 pm.
The SCC will host What’s Love Got To Do With It? on Feb. 9 at McLean High School. This event is an interactive educational program for students and parents. Partnering with Mclean, Langley, and Thomas Jefferson High School, the program will consist of a live theatre presentation from the nationally-known Deana’s Educational Theater, a guest speech from Lynne Russell, the mother of a 19-year-old victim of teen dating abuse and lastly, a community forum. Both students and parents are encouraged to attend the event as well as participate in Purple Out. Purple Out will also be on Thursday and the community will be encouraged to show their awareness by wearing purple. Purple ribbons will be available at the SCC office.
The SCC encourages everyone to speak out, whether they be the victim or the bystander. McLean Clinical Social Worker Mimi Weisberg said that the play selected for the educational program on Feb. 9 “speaks to the victim, the abuser, as well as the bystander.”
Whether a student be the bystander or the victim, here are the ten warning signs of abuse:
1) The abuser checking your cell phone or email without permission
2) The abuser constantly putting you down
3) Acting extremely jealous or insecure
4) Having an explosive temper
5) Wanting to know where you are and who you’re with
6) Isolating you from friends and family
7) Undergoing large mood swings
8) Physical abuse
9) Being possessive
10) Telling you what to do
For more information, visit www.safecommunitycoalition.net.