February dedicated to awareness, prevention of teen dating violence
Mayor Paul Choate on Wednesday declared February to be Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month in El Dorado.
Representatives from Turning Point of South Arkansas attended a small ceremony where Choate read out the proclamation codifying the order.
Alexis Walden, a volunteer coordinator for the nonprofit, highlighted the need to promote teen dating safety, noting that dating violence can range from physical abuse, like hitting, shoving, or kicking, to psychological and emotional abuse, characterized by controlling behavior, bullying and isolation. Sexual abuse can also be a component of dating violence, where one partner forces the other to engage in sex acts without their consent.
“According to the CDC, one in 12 teens experiences physical dating violence, and one in 12 teens experiences sexual dating violence,” Walden said. “Rates of emotional and psychological abuse are far higher than the physical violence for youth; studies have found that as many as 76% of teens report emotional and psychological abuse during relationships.”
Lilli Revels, Turning Point’s prevention education coordinator, has been working this year in local schools to teach students about safe dating and healthy relationships.
“I’m just finishing with Parkers Chapel’s fifth- and sixth-graders, and you would be surprised by the stories I’ve heard,” Revels said. “We did a mock play today on how you all can tell about your boundaries before you go out with anyone.”
Revels said she is also available to speak to church youth groups about healthy dating.
Choate concluded the ceremony on Wednesday by reading the proclamation.
“By providing young people with education about healthy relationships and relationship skills and by changing attitudes that support violence, we recognize that dating violence can be prevented,” Choate said, reading from the proclamation. “The establishment of Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month will benefit young people, their families, schools and communities regardless of socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation or ethnicity.”
Turning Point of South Arkansas is a domestic violence shelter in El Dorado that provides crisis intervention services to survivors of domestic abuse. The nonprofit provides mental health counseling and other services to help survivors get back on their feet, as well as the safe dating education for youth to prevent domestic violence.
To learn more about the organization, visit endallviolence.org or call 870-8620929.