3/30/2015
UNDERSTANDING TEEN
DATING VIOLENCE
KELLY OTTE
850-241-0241
[email protected]
TRAINING OBJECTIVES
 Understand teen dating violence and its consequences
 Identify risk factors, protective factors, warning signs and
challenges for seeking help for teens.
 Learn strategies for communicating with teens about the
important of healthy relationships.
 Learn about technology and abuse relationships.
 Understand what resources are available to prevent dating
violence.
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DATING VIOLENCE /DEFINITIONS
Legal Definition
 Barwick-Rushchak Act
Working Definition
https://youtu.be/9SOZ4Pji90I
Is abusive and violent behavior in teen dating
relationships
Reflects the perpetrator’s desire to control
and dominate the victim
Covers a wide range of behavior that
includes verbal and emotional, physical and
sexual abuse.
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POWER & CONTROL WHEEL
PREVALENCE
 Young people, ages 12-19 experience the highest rates of rape &
sexual assault and youth (Truman, Jennifer, 2010), 18-18 years old
experience the highest rates of stalking (Baum, Katrina, 2009).
 Among 11-14 year olds 62% say they know friends who have been
verbally abused by a boyfriend/girlfriend. More than 1/3 know
someone their age who have been pressured by a boyfriend/girlfriend
to do things they didn’t want to do. (TRU Study, 2008).
 A survey of 7th graders in a high-risk community found that more than
one in three boys (35%) and 1 in 4 adolescents reports being a victim
of physical dating abuse (Swahn MH, 2008)
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18% of women aged 18-24 report being forced to have sex. 13% were age
11 and younger; 15% 12-14; 30% 15-16; 27%17-18 (Child Trends #30,
TEEN DATING VIOLENCE IN FLORIDA
2008)
1:5 teenage girls involved in a serious relationship have been hit, slapped
or pushed (NCADV, 2008)
WHO ARE THE VICTIMS?
 Race & Ethnicity
 Socioeconomics/Class
 Geography
 Educational Status
 High risk populations
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LONG TERM IMPACT
 Girls with a history of physical and sexual dating
violence are significantly more likely to:
 Engage in substance abuse (binge drinking, cocaine
use, smoking, and unhealthy weight-control behaviors)
 Engage in risky sexual behavior before age 15
 Have multiple sexual partners
 To have been pregnant (4-6 times more likely than nonabused peers)
 To have attempted suicide during the previous year (8-9
times more likely than non-abused peers)
HOW TEENS DEFINE DATING
Talking
Hanging Out
Going Out
Talking
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WARNING SIGNS A TEEN IS IN A
VIOLENT RELATIONSHIP:
 Pressure to have sex
 Calls or texts excessively
 Uses guilt
 Threatens to harm themselves if they break up
 Acts like the boss
 Monitors their technology
 Show up unannounced
 Uses sex to manipulate
 Monitors their whereabouts
DISCLOSURE
They may not
 Fear of losing friends
 Fear of telling an adult
 Fear of retaliation
 Love him/her
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WHY THEY MAY STAY IN THE RELATIONSHIP
 Emotional attachment
 Fear
 Lack of understanding about healthy relationships
 Social pressure to have a boyfriend/girlfriend
 Low self esteem and lack of confidence
 Isolation or alienation from friends and family
HOW THEY MAY RESPOND
Anxious
Confusion
Shamed
Depressed
Denial
Defensive
Afraid
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HOW TO HELP - TALKING TO TEENS
 Create safe space
 Confidential
 Don’t lecture. Ask open ended questions
 How did that make you feel?
 Primary messages
 I care about you.
 You are not alone
 I want to help you
 I believe you
 I am worried about you
HOW TO HELP
 Favor House
 Statewide Hotline
 National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline
 Do a risk assessment and safety plan
 Discuss how to break up safely
 Avoid being alone with abuser
 Make it clear that relationship is over
 Be cautious and report stalking or threats
 Create a support system
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 Gather evidence-photos, clothing, messages and
letters
 Get written statements from witnesses
 Assist with filing charges and/or protective order
 If in a school
 Away agreement, counseling, support group, escort
between classes, etc.
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP
 Recognize how important it is they told them.
 Comforting and supportive
 Control emotions
 Educate themselves
 Get help from Favor House, FCADV, National Hotline
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HOW PARENTS CAN HELP
 Help them explore options
 Understand that if they punish them it may make things
worse
 Remember why they didn’t tell in the first place
 Parents should help the teen recognize their strengths
 Remind them they are not responsible
 Help with a safety plan
SAFETY PLANNING
The Basics
Resources
Thing to keep in mind
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HOW TO RESPOND TO BATTERERS
At school
At home of victim
Use caution
RESOURCES ON DATING VIOLENCE
 Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence
http://fcadv.org/projects-programs/teen-dating-violence
 Dating Violence Resource Center, National Center for Victims of Crime
www.ncvc.org/ncvc/main.aspx?dbID=DB_DatingViolenceResourceCenter101
 National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center
www.safeyouth.org/scripts/teens/dating.asp
 Choose Respect, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.chooserespect.org
 Teen Action Campaign www.seeitandstopit.org
 Liz Claiborne http://www.loveisnotabuse.com/home.asp
 Family Violence Prevention Fund
http://endabuse.org/programs/teens/
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