October is just around the corner, especially if you’re planning events for Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Though teen dating abuse has it’s own awareness week in February, obviously the issue of teen dating abuse and domestic violence overlap. Teens are involved in abusive relationships. They have friends that are involved in abusive relationships. They also live in homes with domestic violence. Â
Teens should be recognized and involved during DVAM. During the month of October, we’ll be on the lookout for teens involved in domestic violence awareness events.
If you don’t know what’s being planned for DVAM in your area or you’d like to get involved, try contacting your local domestic violence program (one of our advocates can help you locate it), your school, or even your state coalition on domestic violence. So far, we’ve seen walks, vigils, benefit art displays, and donation drives on calendars across the country. If there isn’t anything planned in your area - consider doing it yourself. We’ll be featuring some DIY DVAM ideas here during the next few weeks.
If you had to get a protective order against someone you dated, what would happen if they went to your school? Or if the ex that was stalking you was in your chemistry class? Would your school help you?
Texas, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts are some of the very few states that have passed leglislation requiring schools to have a response to dating abuse situations. This can include teaching dating abuse awareness in health class, enforcing protective orders on campus, and safety planning with students who report being in abusive relationships. Â
Sign this petition, sponsored by Jennifer Ann’s Group, to show your support for dating abuse legislation and education in your own state.
Today in Florida, a new dating violence bill will be signed into law. The Barwick/Ruschak Act was named after two victims of dating violence, Tiffany Barwick and Michael Ruschack. On September 24, 2007 both were killed by Barwick’s ex-boyfriend. Only hours before Barwick and Ruschack went to the police station to report an email death threat sent by the ex.
The new law will provide the same rights to those in a dating violence situation as those in domestic violence situations. The families of the victims will be present at the signing.
loveisrespect is building a reading list, and we could use your help. If you’ve seen or read books that deal with dating abuse (fiction or non-fiction), please let us know. You can comment here or contact us through www.loveisrespect.org. No book report required (but we won’t turn them away either).
 Tim Gunn, chief creative director for Liz Claiborne and star of Bravo’s Project Runway, was gracious enough to stop by our office for a visit while in Austin this morning. Tim served as one of the judges for our Dating Bill of Rights video contest last year. Some of our volunteer peer advocates showed up early to demonstrate our live chat for him. Volunteers, staff, (and everyone else in the building) were very excited to meet him.
We’ve started making our own videos answering some of loveisrespect’s most frequently asked questions. You can check them out on our YouTube channel. And if you have any questions about our services, please let us know by leaving a comment or sending us an email.
We’re so excited about the newest entries to the loveisrespect video contest. Thanks to all who have entered and please keep them coming! Remember: top prize is a trip to NYC and judges include Tim Gunn and Jaslene Gonzalez.
loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline is sponsoring a video contest in conjunction with the launch or our new (and improved!) website and PSA. Teens between the ages of 13-18 can enter until December 1st. A brief rundown of the rules and info:
Make your own video based on the theme of dating abuse and the Teen Dating Bill of Rights. This could be as simple as you reciting the Dating Bill of Rights, but any genre is ok: animation, documentary, music.
Don’t use copywrited music or images in your video.
Use our logo or mention loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline in your video. *Logos can be downloaded here.
Judges include America’s Next Top Model Winner Jaslene Gonzalez and Project Runway’s Tim Gunn.
The Grand Prize winner gets a trip to NYC (with a parent).
