Start in middle school to prevent teen dating violence
Today’s New York Times featured an article about Start Strong Idaho’s work to prevent dating violence with middle school students.
After studies emerged more than a decade ago showing that the highest rates of physical and sexual assault happen to women ages 16 to 24, programs to prevent abusive relationships have concentrated on high school and college students.
Some initiatives have shown promise, but overall statistics remain largely unchanged: the most recent government report stated that nearly one in 10 high school students said they had been physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend.
Now a diverse group that includes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and federal lawmakers is trying to forestall dating violence by addressing even younger students: middle schoolers. The goal is to educate them about relationships before they start dating in earnest, even though research shows that some seventh graders have already experienced physical and emotional harm while dating.
Check out these PreventConnect podcasts and blogs about the create prevention work in Idaho:
- May the Odds Ever Be in Your Favor: ‘Hunger Games’ to promote healthy relationships
- Campaign for the third choice: dating violence prevention and Eclipse
- Building healthy teen, vampire, and werewolf relationships
Click here to see full article in the New York Times.
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