Hays, KS; Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) is dedicated to raising awareness about healthy-and-unhealthy relationships, common warning signs, and prevention efforts. According to data from the CDC’s 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, about 1 in 12 high school students experienced physical or sexual dating violence during the 12 months before the survey was administered. These pre-teen and teen years are the most crucial time for youth to begin learning the skills necessary to create and maintain healthy relationships (CDC, 2019).
We at Jana’s Campaign believe through primary prevention education programs we can change and improve attitudes, behaviors, interactions, and social norms for young people. Since 2013, our Violence Prevention Educators have worked with 680 middle and high schools directly impacting over 105,000 K-12 students in Kansas, Colorado, and Nebraska. We commend these schools for understanding the importance of talking to their students about healthy-and-unhealthy relationships.
Jana’s Campaign recognizes Teen Dating Violence (TDV) as a prevalent public health issue affecting millions of adolescents around the world. This not only affects youth mentally, emotionally, and physically; but their long-term health can be impacted. TDV creates a significantly increased risk of disordered eating, anxiety, stress symptoms and depression, suicidal ideation and/or attempts, smoking, alcohol and drug use, and an overall diminished emotional well-being.
Teen Dating Violence can include many types of unhealthy behavior:
● Physical violence is when a person hurts or tries to hurt a partner by hitting, kicking, shoving, slapping, spitting, and/or using another type of physical force or threat of force.
● Sexual violence is forcing or attempting to force a partner, acquaintance, or stranger to take part in a sex act, sexual touching, or a non-physical sexual event (e.g., sexting) when the victim does not or cannot consent.
● Psychological aggression is the use of verbal and non-verbal communication with the intent to harm another person mentally or emotionally and/or to exert control over another person.
● Stalking is a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention, and contact by a partner or ex-partner that causes fear or concern for one’s safety or the safety of someone close to the victim.
● Tech-facilitated abuse is a pattern of behaviors in which one partner controls, pressures, or threatens their dating partner using digital technologies.
To do our part in raising awareness of TDV, Jana’s Campaign has developed a Teen Dating Violence Awareness Toolkit to help communities better understand, prevent, and respond to instances of TDV. The toolkit is free and can be found on the Jana’s Campaign website, www.janascampaign.org/awareness-toolkits.html. Throughout February, Jana’s Campaign will also share facts, statistics, and prevention-focused resources across its social media platforms.
While February provides an important opportunity to elevate awareness, teen dating violence does not end when the month does. It remains a persistent and often hidden reality for young people in every community. Prevention requires ongoing education, sustained attention, and collective responsibility—every day of the year.
We invite community members, educators, parents, and youth to stand with us in confronting the often-unseen epidemic of relationship violence. Learn more about Teen Dating Violence, explore our Awareness Toolkit, and discover Jana’s Campaign’s prevention programs at www.janascampaign.org, or by following us on Facebook and Instagram. To invite Jana’s Campaign Prevention Educators to your school or community, please contact [email protected] or call 785-656-0324.