CHOOSE RESPECT CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS HEALTHY TEEN DATING

CHOOSE RESPECT CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS HEALTHY TEEN DATING

The need for awareness is critical all year long

February, 2016: Teen Dating Violence is a national effort in February to raise awareness about abuse in teen relationships and promote programs that prevent it from happening and what to do if it occurs. Dating violence is more common than many people think. One in three teens in the U.S. will experience physical, sexual or emotional abuse by someone they are in a relationship with before they become adults. The need for awareness extends well beyond this month.

The 2016 Choose Respect forum is scheduled for March 20, 2016 from 1 PM – 4:30 PM at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville. This year the free event is being co-sponsored by the Montgomery County Public Schools. Parents, teens, youth service providers, educators and others will discuss the problems around teen dating violence and ways to establish healthy relationships. To register, follow this link: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/choose-respect-montgomery-tickets-19865278583

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. One quarter of high school girls have been victims of physical or sexual abuse.

​Once again, a highlight of the event will be the announcement of winners of the Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest. First prize is $1,000. There will be a pre-conference Red Carpet, where attendees will be given the opportunity to take selfies, use the hashtag #respectyourselfie2016, and tweet information about the event and what they are learning. A live feed of this portion is planned so attendees can see their photos and receive answers to questions in real time.

Sponsors include Verizon, Montgomery County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, Montgomery County Public Schools, Zoomph, Montgomery County Family Justice Center Foundation and AWARE. Prize money will be awarded to the PSA winners by Verizon. This is the fourth consecutive year that the company has sponsored the event.

Students in sixth grade through high school are urged to attend. They will be in tracks according to age. 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.