Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month- February 2015
A Note from our Executive Director

Dating, being with your friends, exploring the world of relationships are all "normal" teenage  activities.  But sometimes it can go very wrong.  Women and girls between 16 and 24 years old have the highest rates of intimate partner violence of any age group.  Here in Fairfax, in the County's annual youth survey, 18% of young people reported experiencing dating violence. 

 

Dating violence isn't just about the immediate bruises either. Young people who experience it are at higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior and have higher rates of attempted suicide - all reasons that Alternative House incorporates safe dating workshops, groups and counseling into all of our programs.  

 

March is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness month.  This month's newsletter provides additional information about what Alternative House does to prevent dating violence and ways that you can help keep young people safe.  I hope you'll find the information useful and that together we can lower the number of young men and women who experience dating violence.

  -- Judith Dittman
A Young Mother's Escape from Dating Violence

Molly is one of many girls who find that teen love can swiftly evolve into abuse.  John began courting Molly in high school. He claimed to love her, but as time went on John became increasingly controlling, temperamental, accusatory, and lashed out at Molly verbally. Eventually his behavior led to physical abuse.

 

Molly's family was unable to help her stand up to John. She became pregnant and gave birth to their son when she was only 17.

 

One day John went to a house where Molly was staying and threatened her with a knife. She knew she wanted to get away from John but was running out of safe places that would welcome her and her baby.

 

Molly found support and safety at Alternative Houses Assisting Young Mothers program, which helped her obtain a protective order against John. Assisting Young Mothers provided Molly with a stable, safe place to live and the continuing help she needed to put her troubled past behind her.

 

Our trained staff helped her obtain healthcare for herself and her child, affordable childcare, and transportation to doctor's appointments and job interviews. It also provided her son with a safe environment to grow and thrive in, and prepared him to enter kindergarten.

 

Eventually, Molly was able to move forward with her life, gain employment and achieve a high school diploma. She is now working towards her Associate's degree and has saved up enough money to rent an apartment for herself and her child.

 

Molly's struggle with teen dating violence is sadly not uncommon.  According to theNational Resource Center for Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, 1.5 million teens say they experienced teen dating violence. But unlike Molly, only 33% actually report the abuse to the authorities.  

 

To learn more about teen dating violence and how to spot the symptoms, please visit these sites:

 

CDC Fact Sheet on Teen Dating Violence (PDF)  

 

ABC News - Teen Dating Violence Warning Signs 

 

Love Is Respect - Symptoms of Dating Abuse  
A national report released in 2014 by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that almost 74% of high school students have dated, and among them, about 10.5% have unwillingly engaged in sexual behavior one or more times over the course of the previous year.  



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Volunteer Spotlight - Richard Priest
Richard Priest served our country as a marine and a teacher in Fairfax County public schools. Currently, he serves as a volunteer at Alternative House's Springfield Safe Youth Project, an after-school program for 4th through 6th graders.

 

His colleagues often asked why he chose a career in teaching. His response was heartfelt and poignant. "I wanted to invest my life in something important. Young people are important."

 

As a high school teacher, Richard saw firsthand the critical need for what he calls a "safe haven" where young people can do their homework, see their friends and play games under the care of responsible adults. "Too often, kids go home and no one is there. They get in trouble because there's no supervision."

 

Richard - known fondly as "Grandpa P"- enjoys spending time with the children in the Springfield Safe Youth Project, whether helping with homework, playing games, or simply listening to how their day was. "They realize you're not getting paid to be there. They appreciate that you want to spend time with them and invest in their lives."

 

His heart and dedication inspire us and we are thrilled to have him on our team!
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PO Box 694, Dunn Loring, VA 22027    703.506.9191  1.800.SAY.TEEN