Florida's Department of Health acknowledges that sexual violence is a public health issue that affects the well-being of the victim, family, friends, and community. Therefore, the Department's Sexual Violence Prevention Program joined state and community partners to develop the first-ever, five year strategic plan to prevent sexual violence in Florida, with an emphasis on teen dating violence prevention. The strategic plan’s prevention focus is on training professionals and educating youth to create social change throughout the state.
"Many teens do not report dating violence because they are afraid and fearful to tell friends and family. It is important that they know this is not a healthy relationship and that they can tell someone what is going on. The focus of the Miami-Dade County project is to raise teen dating violence prevention as a public health priority."
—Office of Injury Prevention Director, Lisa VanderWerf-Hourigan, M.S.
"Sexual and teen dating violence is a serious public health issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year 1 in 11 adolescents report being a victim of physical dating violence said State Surgeon General Ana M. Viamonte Ros, M.D., M.P.H. In Florida, we are working to prevent teen dating violence by educating adolescents to develop skills for healthy relationships and promote respectful and nonviolent dating relationships."
—State Surgeon General Viamonte Ros
Runaway and Homeless Youth and Relationship Tool Kit: Published by the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
Youth violence data sources: From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Teen Dating Violence: A Closer Look at Adolescent Romantic Relationships: Most teenagers do not experience physical aggression when they date. However, for one in 10 teens, abuse is a very real part of dating relationships. According to the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, approximately 10 percent of adolescents nationwide reported being the victim of physical violence at the hands of a romantic partner during the previous year.
By Carrie Mulford, Ph.D., and Peggy C. Giordano, Ph.D.; published by the U.S. Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice.
A look at boys who commit dating violence: In this study of the lives of young male abusers, the young men often describe in their own words challenges such as growing up with troubled family lives, having little or no support when they began to fail at school, and witnessing violence in their own homes and communities.
By Elizabeth Miller, MD, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, UC Davis Children's Hospital.
Dating Matters: Understanding Teen Dating Violence Prevention: This interactive online training course helps educators, youth-serving organizations, and others working with teens understand the risk factors and warning signs associated with teen dating violence. Presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
State laws on teen dating violence: The National Conference of State Legislatures emphasizes the key role policymakers can play in preventing teen dating violence. At least seven states have laws that urge or require school boards to develop curricula on teen dating violence. In 2010 four states introduced related legislation: California, Florida, Georgia and Maryland.
Combating dating violence on the federal level: The Office of Violence Against Women at the U.S. Department of Justice renewed its focus on dating violence when President Bush signed the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005, which created new grant programs and amended existing criminal provisions.
Federal leadership on youth issues: The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) at the U.S. Department of Justice provides national leadership, coordination, and resources to prevent and respond to juvenile delinquency and victimization. OJJDP supports states and communities in their efforts to develop and implement effective and coordinated prevention and intervention programs and to improve the juvenile justice system so that it protects public safety, holds offenders accountable, and provides treatment and rehabilitative services tailored to the needs of juveniles and their families.
Harvard Kennedy School: Combating Teen Dating Violence: A consortium of researchers and professionals dedicated to promoting healthy adolescent relationships and reducing risk behaviors work on multiple topic areas include teen dating and violence. The consortium develops and evaluates programs, resources and training materials for educators and other front-line professionals who work with youth.
Chronicle of a successful community intervention: The University of California Riverside convinced a community to unite to address youth violence prevention. The results are impressive and the approach innovative.