Hartford-Area Group Declares War On Teen Dating Violence

Interval House

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford-based nonprofit serving 24 towns in the area is spending February urging awareness of a teen scourge many might not be aware of — dating violence.

Interval House—Connecticut’s largest domestic violence agency— is observing "Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month" all throughout February.

Founded in 1977, Interval House is the largest agency in the state of Connecticut dedicated to preventing and breaking the cycle of domestic violence.

Though based in Hartford, Interval House serves several towns in the central Connecticut area.

Those are Andover; Avon; Bloomfield; Bolton; Canton; East Granby; East Hartford; Ellington; Farmington; Glastonbury; Granby; Hartford; Hebron; Manchester; Marlborough; Newington; Rocky Hill; Simsbury; South Windsor; Tolland; Vernon; West Hartford; Wethersfield; and Windsor.

This week, the organization hosted several Hartford city, state, and social services officials at a special Valentine's Day press conference to discuss the issue. It was called 'Love Shouldn't Hurt."

It took place at Capital Community College in Hartford and it featured several speakers, including U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Connecticut Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz; Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam; and Mary-Jane Foster, president and chief executive officer of Interval House; among others.

But the most impactful speaker was Lyzette Hicks, a survivor of teen dating violence.

The majority of the agency’s outreach focuses on the importance of preventive education in breaking the intergenerational cycle of intimate partner abuse.

According to Interval House, 33 percent of adolescents in America are victims of physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional violence by their dating partners. Of those experiencing abuse, only 30 percent ever tell anyone.

Further, parents often are unaware of what is going on in their kids’ relationships.

“Teens are navigating the choppy waters of the dating world earlier and earlier,” said Foster, Interval House’s president and chief executive officer.

“With 72 percent of 13- and 14-year-olds ‘dating,’ it is absolutely critical for us as parents, educators, and mentors to equip the kids in our lives with information about healthy relationships and empower them to speak up when something is wrong.”

Simsbury Forum Feb. 22

Many of Interval House's events have already taken place this month, but there is one forum slated in Simsbury next week.

On Thursday, Feb. 22, at 6:30 p.m., Interval House is hosting "Healthy Relationships for Teens" at the Simsbury Public Library, 725 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury.

It will feature a presentation by Interval House Director of Community Programs Emily Cintorino outlining how to spot a healthy relationship and how to get out of a bad one.

It is open to parents and teens. Registration is required for the Simsbury event and it can be done by clicking on this link.

For more information on Interval House's pledge to combat domestic violence, click on this link.