Students from Carver’s School of Health Science and Research will participate in National Teen Dating Violence Awareness & Prevention Month. Their efforts are in synch with a partnership with local youth-development organization The Rock of Escape and The Jane Fonda Center at Emory University. Come join in these efforts at the kickoff event on Thursday, Feb. 4, at The New Schools at Carver. Following media interviews at noon, there will be a student assembly at 1:10 p.m. in the Leete Auditorium as the two organizations announce local efforts to spread the message to prevent dating abuse and empower Atlanta’s teens to build healthy dating relationships. As a release from The Rock of Escape notes, “Public education can have a profound impact, and we would appreciate your help in encouraging teens to recognize, avoid and prevent relationship abuse.”
Carver will participate in a couple of several planned events: Start Strong Atlanta Partners & Carver’s Health Sciences and Research students will convene an exhibition of local organizations to increase awareness of programs and services, and social marketing resources for teens and parents to increase knowledge about teen and adult domestic violence on Feb. 11; and Safe Dates Play will debut at Carver then travel to other Atlanta Public Schools, on Feb. 18.
Teen dating abuse is considered by many to be a serious problem in Atlanta and the nation. Many teens experience abuse and violence in their young relationships, and digital dating abuse is becoming increasingly common to this generation of teens. In fact, according to research, one in four teens in a relationship say they have been called names, harassed or put down by their partner through cell phones and texting.
The Jane Fonda Center @ Emory University’s Start Strong Atlanta is part of a national initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to prevent and end teen dating violence and abuse, primary partners include APS and Grady Health System, Teen Services Program.