Teen Dating Violence Prevention

The Teen Dating Violence (TDV) Committee of the San Diego Domestic Violence Council created a Best Practices Guide for TDV Prevention and Intervention for Schools. The guide features:

 

The Warning Signs of Teen Dating Violence

TIPS TO START THE CONVERSATION WITH STUDENTS

Build Rapport

It takes time to build trust; youth may open up about their relationships as they are comfortable. If they don't want to talk to you, is there someone else they feel comfortable with?

Disclose Your Status 

Before you engage youth in a conversation, always disclose if you are a mandated reporter and what that means.

The Goal isn't Disclosure

It is okay if a young person does not want to disclose. The goal is to create a space where students know they can talk to you without judgment or go to you for resources and support.

Ask Open-Ended Questions

Create opportunities to check in with them and ask open-ended questions like, "I've noticed you've been struggling to pay attention in class - what's on your mind lately?"

Validate Their Experiences

Let them know they did not deserve to experience abuse and the abuse is not their fault. Don't minimize the effect the abuse is having on the student.

Involve Them

If they disclose, share what local resources are available to them and support them in their choices. Ask them how they want to move forward.

CONNECT STUDENTS WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Teen Dating Violence (TDV): Awareness and Resources October 2020 by the TDV Committee of the San Diego Domestic Violence Council. This webinar provided an overview of the warning signs and risk factors, strategies for how to respond to TDV and the local and national resources for support.

Beyond Awareness: Preventing Teen Dating Violence in Schools January 2021 by the TDV Committee of the San Diego Domestic Violence Council. This webinar provided information about the dynamics of teen dating violence and how to approach prevention from a public health perspective. Additionally, viewers walked away with tangible tools to host prevention and awareness campaigns in February for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

Preventing Teen Dating Violence in Schools by Teen Leaders for Schools February 2023 by the TDV Committee of the San Diego Domestic Violence Council. This February for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, teen leaders addressed questions and shared insights about today's teen dating violence (TDV), how adults and school staff can better support teens, how TDV affects teens, and how TDV happens online.

Preventing Teen Dating Violence in Schools February 2024 (slides) by the TDV Committee of the San Diego Domestic Violence Council. Attendees learned about Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, national and local statistics, how to start conversation with students, resources and partnerships, and taking action at your school.

During the month of February, communities nationwide take a stand against TDV by spreading awareness and prevention education to address relationship violence and there are some things you can do.

The TDV Committee of the San Diego Domestic Violence Council created the Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month Toolkit to spread awareness and prevention education throughout the year:

Host an information table with resources

• 10 Healthy/Unhealthy Relationship Signs
• Relationship Bill of Rights
• Healthy LGBTQ+ Relationships

Wear Orange Day on the Second Tuesday in February 

• Wear something orange and use it as an opportunity to help raise awareness about teen dating violence
• Or tell us what "LOVE IS...." with a selfie or a group picture of you with friends/family/co-workers all wearing orange and use #tdvamteamorange

Engage students with the Relationship Spectrum Activity

• For high school students
• For middle school students

The Teen Dating Violence (TDV) Committee of the San Diego Domestic Violence Council partnered with The Wildflower Initiative, who provided funding for the Healthy Relationships Poster Series. The poster series depict positive messaging about healthy relationships by diverse authors.

The posters are intended to hang in highly visible locations in schools, such as hallways, cafeterias, gymnasiums, outdoor spaces, or classrooms. Due to limited quantities, middle schools and high schools are the target audience for this poster series. If you would like to order the Healthy Relationships Poster Series for your middle and/or high schools, please use the following link https://forms.gle/pytTVz6jaShhHKnVA to submit your request.

Learn about healthy teen relationship classes offered by community organizations available upon request. Here is the link to local TDV & Healthy Relationships classes.