We, at the Calvert County Commission for Women, are promoting a Teen Dating - Unhealthy Relationships Presentation. We have requested that this be included in the Health Curriculum of our County Schools but were denied. We were instead invited to present it to all Principals and Guidance Counselors. We were also invited by a number of the PTSA’s to present to them and their students and parents. The responses have been more than favorable. All are in agreement that the Presentation needs to be presented to our youth. By reviewing the statistics below we are sure you will agree that an alarming number of our children are involved in Unhealthy Relationships.

We want to expand what teens are being taught both in school and at home. To let our children know that they are not alone, it has happened to others and it is not their fault it is happening to them. To please reach out for help, they alone cannot control or stop what another person is doing to them. Even if they are not currently involved in an Unhealthy Relationship this program will teach them the warning signs to watch for if they do become involved in such a relationship. The program can help prevent them from getting involved with a person who is displaying some of the danger signs.

Teen Dating - Unhealthy Relationships Presentation Goals

• Include the presentation in the Health Curriculum of High Schools and Middle Schools for both boys and girls, as both sexes can be abusive
• Raise awareness of the emotional and/or physical warning signs of a potentially Unhealthy Relationship
• Provide information on where to get assistance/help for themselves or a friend
• Present this around the County in other venues

Statistics:

• Ages 16 -24 experience the largest number of dating violence incidents
• 1 in 5 girls between ages 14 and 17 report being hit or beaten by a boyfriend
• 1 in 3 girls between ages 14 - 17 will be or have been in an abusive relationship
• Over 50% of teenage girls report having known someone who was in an abusive relationship and they didn't know what to do to help.
• This affects both boys and girls
• Over 50% of male abusers reported committing their first act of Domestic Abuse before the age of 18.

The program is also designed to teach our youth to look at their own relationships and ask themselves if they are displaying any of the signs of abuse and control. A lot of our teens are unaware that some of their actions are inappropriate and may be making their partner uncomfortable. Some girls believe if they just wouldn’t behave a certain way their boyfriends wouldn’t get so mad at them and hurt them. This extends beyond physical and emotional abuse and into sexual abuse by being pressured by their partner into engaging in actions that they may not want to participate in.