Reach Out Against Teen Dating Violence and Sexual Assault

1. Reach Out AgainstTeen Dating Violence and Sexual Assault Presented by:Kelly Perine, Paralegal LawNY Lauren West, Director SARC Tara Harvey, PhD The Net Shelter

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxpgOtOpvNA

3. Nearly 25% of 14-17 year-olds surveyed know at least one student who was a victim of dating violence, while 11% know multiple victims of dating violence. 33% of teens have actually witnessed such an event. • 20% of surveyed male students report witnessing someone they go to high school with physically hit a person they were dating. • 45% of girls know a friend or peer who has been pressured into either intercourse or oral sex. • One in three teens reports knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, kicked, slapped or physically hurt by their dating partner.

4. Quick Facts • In 2009, the CDC reported that 9.8% of high school students reported being hit, slapped or physically hurt by their partner during the last 12 months • Liz Claiborne 2008 study shows that 69% of all teens who have had sex by 14 have been in an abusive relationship. • Teens are at higher risk for intimate partner abuse than adults. • Females between 16-24 are more vulnerable to intimate partner violence than any other age group.

5. Among female victims of intimate partner violence, a current or former boyfriend or girlfriend victimized 94% of those between the ages of 16-19. • Half of the reported date rapes occur among teenagers. • 58% of rape victims report being raped between the ages of 12-24 • In a study of gay, lesbian, and bi-sexual adolescents, youths involved in same-sex dating are just as likely to experience dating violence as youths involved in opposite sex dating.

6. Why does it matter? • Violent relationships in adolescence can have serious ramifications for victims: Many will continue to be abused in their adult relationships and are at a higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior, and suicide. • The severity of violence among intimate partners has been shown to increase if the pattern has been established in adolescence. • 50% of youth reporting both dating violence and rape also reported attempting suicide, compared to 12.5% of non-abused girls and 5.4% of non-abused boys.

7. What is it? • http://www.ncdsv.org/images/TeensAgainstAbuse_TEAR-PandCWheel_2009.pdf

8. What is Sexual Violence? • Lack of consent could be due to force, threat of force or incapacity to consent. Incapacity to consent can be due to age, mental incapacitation, physical helplessness, certain custodial situations, or certain disabilities. • Sexual violence is a spectrum that includes, but is not limited to, rape, incest, sex trafficking, and many other behaviors. The key is “lack of consent”.

10. What is Sexual Violence? • Sexual violence can also include fondling, child pornography, grabbing someone’s genitals, sexual harassment, stalking, intimate partner or dating violence, “sexting”, and transmitting photos of someone’s unclothed body over the internet without their permission.

11. How common is Sexual Violence among adolescents and teens?

12. What to Say to a Victim of Sexual Assault: • It’s not your fault. • You didn’t deserve to be treated that way. • I’m sorry. • You did the best you could. • Do you want to talk about it?

13. What can I do to help? • Believe – sometimes the story seems hard to believe. • Your role is to be supportive…not judge and jury. • Don’t Blame– sexual violence is NEVER the victim’s fault. • Listen – often the victim just needs to talk. • Respect – sexual assault is a very personal crime. Respect the victim’s confidentiality as much as possible. • Call the SARC hotline yourself– you may need to talk to someone, especially if the victim is a close friend or loved one. Sexual violence can have secondary victims, as well. Recognize and reach out for help if you need it.

14. Ensure every victim is treated with respect, dignity and sensitivity • We believe all individuals have the right to live a life free of sexual violence!

15. Establishing an Environment that Promotes Healthy Behavior • Defining and teaching core behavioral expectations and skills • Acknowledging and rewarding appropriate behavior • Establishing a consistent continuum of consequences for problem behavior

16. Exposure to Violent Relationships • Children and Teens are exposed to unhealthy relationships.

17. Reasons to implement a policy • Title IX • Duties under Title IX • Provide equal protection of the laws • Train Employees • Promote School safety • Track Adolescent Dating Abuse • Unsafe School Choice Option • Notice of policy • Community Reporting

18. Equal Protection • Civil Liability

19. Training of Employees • Resources

20. School Safety

21. Track Adolescent Dating Abuse Safe and Drug-Free School and Communities Act

22. Unsafe School Choice Option • No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

23. Notice of Policy • Policy in all Handbooks, website , info in all classrooms.

24. Community Reporting

25. Highlights of a model Teen Dating Violence Policy • Have a coordinator for the district • Have a liaison for each school • Provide school wide education on dating violence for the students • Topics should include Healthy relationships Defining unhealthy relationships/Warning signs Technology components Youth led components Early intervention in response to any teen dating violence incidents

26. for staff including • Fostering healthy relationships • Understanding life long effects of teen dating violence • Indicators in health and behavior of students in unhealthy relationships • Implementation policy for District • Referral sources for District and School • Appropriate interventions • Role modeling

27. Parent/Caregiver Involvement • Group discussions that foster communication on the subject between adults and youth • Information sharing through a variety of media • Targeted sessions for students that are transitioning from one school stage to another

28. Response to suspected or actual dating violence • Implementing a protocol for response • Appropriate documentation procedures • Addressing confidentiality • Implementing reporting and disciplinary procedures • Creating and implementing school based safety protocols • Implementing protection orders within the school setting • Referring victims and abusers to appropriate resources • Imposing appropriate consequences

29. Reporting Incidents • Who, What, Where, When • Monitoring Program • Built in evaluations for the efficacy of the program • Minimum of every 3 years • Data based • Annual report on campus safety • Survey data integrated into school climate surveys

30. Even if your school doesn’t implement a policy… • There are things you can do • Look for the warning signs • Unexplained injuries • Fearful of the partner • Is the partner jealous or demanding? • Does the partner put the victim down? • Does the victim apologize for their partner’s behavior? Or make a joke of insults? • Has the partner been a bully or abusive towards others or property? • Change in interest level in activities? • Change in appearance or behavior? • Change in time spent with people other than the partner? • Changes in mood or personality? • Started using alcohol or drugs? http://www.dibbleinstitute.org/Documents/DVEP.pdf

31. Adjust your classroom climate • Say it – • name the action observed/words heard • Claim it – • This is offensive to me and not ok in general • Stop it – • Please do not ever do x again in my presence

32. Be ‘that’ teacher • Be pro-active • Be the teacher with the open door • listening ears and • open mind • Know the resources available • School Counselor • Local DV Program – • 1-800-286-3407 • Local Sexual Assault Program – • 1-800-810-0093 • Local Legal Aid – • 607-776-4126