Dating violence is more common than you may think, especially among teens and young adults: nationally, 1 in 3 teens will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before becoming adults.
The Chicago Dating Matters Initiative’s baseline evaluation of the impact of teen dating violence prevention programs found that approximately seven in ten 6th, 7th, and 8th graders from Chicago who reported dating also experienced teen dating violence. Of those, 51% were psychologically abused, 36% were moderately physically abused, 24% were severely physically abused, 24% were sexually abused and 19% were stalked by a dating partner.
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) is held throughout the month of February as a way to bring together teens and those who support them in a national effort to raise awareness about teen dating violence. This toolkit provides guidance on how YOU can join Between Friends’ advocacy and education efforts this February to stop dating abuse before it starts.