“Be About It” — Modeling healthy relationships for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and Hope House invites you to take action! According to the national organization Love is Respect, 1 in 3 U.S. teens will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with. Their Youth Council chose “Be About It” as the theme for this February. An extension of last year’s “Talk About It” theme, “Be About It” calls on individuals to not just talk about the warning signs of abuse or what a healthy relationship looks like, but also to model healthy relationships, engage teens in identifying their dating rights and responsibilities, and empower them with the tools to support someone who’s being abused. Love is Respect states that, “Whether offering support, or relationship education, or connecting someone to resources, ‘Be About It’ calls on us all to create a world free from relationship abuse.” We encourage you to explore loveisrespect.org with a teen in your life and hold space for them to share their own thoughts and experiences regarding relationships.

If you have questions or concerns regarding relationships for a youth in your life or for yourself, Hope House is available 24/7 to provide confidential help with safety planning and emotional support: 1–800–584–6790. Learn about getting involved and how you can help at hopehousescw.org/teen-dating-violence.

by Sarah Campbell, Youth Advocate/Educator
Hope House of South Central Wisconsin