GROUPS REACH OUT ON TEEN DATING VIOLENCE

Effort is part of national campaign on awareness and how to prevent it

Throughout February, county authorities and several local nonprofit groups have been spreading the word about domestic abuse encouraging parents to talk with their children about healthy relationships in recognition of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

“It does happen everywhere,” said Cori Austin, CEO of the San Diego-based Center for Community Solutions CEO in an interview last week, noting that abuse among teens in dating relationships is common. “We’re out in the community all the time, and what we’re finding is when we create the right space, youth are telling us that they’re experiencing this.”

Austin said staff members from the center are donning orange clothing — the color of the national campaign — and visiting schools to spread awareness about the serious effects of teen dating violence.

On Feb. 7, the San Diego County

Administration Center on Pacific Highway was lit up in orange.

Data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Survey in 2019 show that among U.S. high school students who reported dating during the 12 months before the survey: about 1 in 12 experienced physical dating violence, and about 1 in 12 experienced sexual dating violence.

The CDC noted that some teens are at greater risk than others: female students experienced higher rates of physical and sexual dating violence than male students, and students who identified as part of the LBGTQ community experienced higher rates of physical and sexual dating violence compared to students who identified as heterosexual.

According to the Center for Community Solutions, one way to prevent violence and abuse is to talk with young people about what makes a healthy relationship. The groups uses the following guide, known as C.H.A.R.M:

• Communication: Tell others what you need and want. Ask questions in stead of trying to guess what someone else needs.