Love Doesn’t Hurt Teens & Relationship Abuse

1. Love Doesn’tHurtTeens & Relationship Abuse EDGC 682 Robin Jones 11.14.2012

2. purpose of this presentation • There have been many initiatives/organizations formed in recent years that share a goal; to promote awareness of and prevent teen relationship abuse. • The aim of my presentation is two-fold – to present information in such a way that counselors/teachers could educate clients & students and also to provide a wealth of resources for counselors and teachers to use in educating themselves on signs/symptoms/and what to do for those experiencing the abuse.

3. A Story of teen love…and abuse • http://www.dontletyourself.org/resources/videos/teen-dating-violence.html

4. Would you recognize the signs of relationship abuse? Does your partner… • Check your phone or email without your permission? • Constantly put you down? • Seem extremely jealous or insecure? • Have an explosive temper? • Isolate you from family or friends? • Make false accusations against you? • Experience dramatic mood swings? • Physically hurt you in any way? • Seem really possessive of you? • Tell you what to do? • Make all of the decisions in your relationship?

5. Power & control • http://www.loveisrespect.org/is-this-abuse/power-and-control-wheel Teensagainstabuse.org

6. What is Relationship abuse? • Verbal Abuse: Any verbal attempt to lower partner's self worth • Destruction of Personal Property: Any attempt to destroy or alter partner’s personal belongings   • Intimidation: Any attempt to use looks, actions, tone, or expressions to scare partner • Restriction of Freedom: Any attempt to limit partner's free will • Abuse of Authority: Any attempt to use authority to control partner • Sexual Abuse: Anyunwanted sexual advance to partner - including rape, coercion or restricting access to birth control • Physical Abuse: Any attempt to cause bodily harm to your partner – such as hitting, shoving, biting, strangling, kicking or using a weapon • Emotional Abuse: Any attempt to manipulate partner's thoughts or feelings – such as threats, insults, constant monitoring, humiliation, intimidation, isolation or stalking www.teensagainstabuse.org

7. What’s the big deal?Dating abuse statistics • Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year. • One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence. • One in 10 high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend. Loveisrespect.org

8. They’re just kids, Right? • Girls and young women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence -- almost triple the national average. • Violent behavior typically begins between the ages of 12 and 18. • About 72% of eighth and ninth graders are already “dating". Loveisrespect.org

9. Effects that last a lifetime • Violent relationships in adolescence can have serious ramifications by putting the victims at higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior and further domestic violence. • Being physically or sexually abused makes teen girls six times more likely to become pregnant and twice as likely to get a STI. • Half of youth who have been victims of both dating violence and rape attempt suicide, compared to 12.5% of non-abused girls and 5.4% of non-abused boys. Loveisrespect.org

10. I’m a teacher/counselorand I need more information! I found an amazing free training tool online! http://www.vetoviolence.org/datingmatters/#

11. So many wonderfulresources • http://www.teensagainstabuse.org • http://www.loveisrespect.org • http://www.breakthecycle.org/dating-violence-101 • http://www.vetoviolence.org/datingmatters/# • http://www.dontletyourself.org/