February is Teen Dating Violence Prevention month! Read more about the topic below and download a fact sheet about teen dating violence prevention.
Adolescence is a time when many young people start their first romantic relationships. Dating can be a new and exciting phase in teens’ lives that helps them learn more about themselves and sets the stage for future relationships. But for many teens, the dating experience can also include different forms of violence that can cause short- and long-term harm to their physical and mental health. Helping teens develop healthy and respectful relationships early on may protect them from the harmful consequences of dating violence and set the stage for healthy relationship patterns that persist into adulthood. The Children’s Safety Now Alliance and Children’s Safety Network seek to strengthen state and jurisdiction health department infrastructure to support child safety and well-being. This fact sheet can guide the work of states and jurisdictions by informing where and how to focus programs and strategies to prevent and reduce teen dating violence.