loveisrespect Blog

A new study looks at the lives of boys that abuse their partners - read more about it at the UC Davis Health System website. While more research will need to be done, this study shows a connection between boys that abuse and troubles with home, school, and a peer group that encourages mistreatment of women and girls.

Whatever further studies clarify, clearly focusing on simple awareness of dating abuse isn’t enough. Prevention is equally important. The boys that participated in this study were already in groups for dating violence perpetration -  these groups aren’t easily found in some areas. What about boys that want help and can’t find it? Our peer advocates struggle with this issue every day.

We hope these continuing studies might reveal some new ideas for prevention of dating abuse. If you have an idea, share it here. What do you can help when parents, schools, and friends aren’t?

We keep getting alerts about youth driven Domestic Violence Awareness Month events across the country, and we wanted to give a few some attention here -

• The Women’s Center at University of Nebraska - Lincoln is hosting a Week Without Violence from Oct 13-18. Check out the full lineup of events - among them is the Clothesline Project. Students will create a t-shirt and hang them on a clothesline for display.
• New Canaan students got the word out with purple ribbons and purple awareness bracelets as part of an anti-bullying week.

October isn’t over people! There’s still time to do your own thing (and let us know about it).

Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning will introduce legislation in January to require dating abuse education in middle and high schools. Read more.

Digitaljournal.com article concerning dating abuse education in Texas and Rhode Island prompts discussion. Read and join in.

The National Council on Crime and Delinquency releases report on teen dating violence. Download.

If you’ve got some old cell phones lying around the house, then you’ve go an easy way help survivors of domestic violence during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Call to Protect provides cell phones to survivors of domestic violence to ensure they have a way to reach help if they’re in danger. The cell phones that don’t go to survivors are refurbished and sold to benefit domestic violence causes.

So round up the extra phones in your house, and visit Call to Protect to find out how to donate. You may find a local drop off spot (like The Body Shop), but if not - you can mail them in. There’s also info on erasing your personal data from the phone before sending it off. And hey, it’s a great cause, but if you didn’t pay for the phone - check before donating.

October is here. If you’re still looking for a way to get involved in Domestic Violence Awareness Month, consider adopting a local domestic violence shelter. Here’s how -

Contact your local domestic violence shelter (we can help you find it - just give us a call/chat). Ask what sort of donations they can use. Get some friends together (or do this as a class, club, etc.) and collect the items the shelter needs. Some examples of things a shelter might need are blankets, toiletries, clothing (for adults and kids), or cash.  But be sure to call and talk to someone first - some shelters have limited storage space (if you show up with a truckload of dental floss, they probably won’t have a place to keep it.)

Let people know about your project and start collecting. Collect items for a week, or continue to collect during all of October. You can ask teachers to set up drop boxes in their classrooms, set up a table during lunches to collect items, or even go door to door in your neighborhood. Then deliver your donations to the shelter at the end of the month.

If you decide to try this or any other activity to commemorate DVAM, please let us know. We’d love to hear about it.