YOUTH WILL CHOOSE RESPECT TO END DATING VIOLENCE

TEENS, PARENTS, YOUTH WORKERS, WILL CHOOSE RESPECT

TO END CYCLE OF DATING VIOLENCE

Tommy McFly to kick off seventh annual conference

Morning Host Tommy McFLY of 94.7 Fresh FM and correspondent for WUSA9-TV will emcee the opening session of the 2016 Choose Respect conference in Montgomery County. The 2016 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.

“The Montgomery County Family Justice Center Foundation, as always, is grateful for the continued financial support of Verizon for this important event,” said Resa Levy, Executive Director.

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.

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