TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AND THE MEDICAL HOME RESPONSE
This material was developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics under award #2012-VF-GX-K011, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed herein are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the US Department of Justice. DISCLAIMER
Form of Intimate Partner Violence Not just Physical violence, can also be: Emotional (threatening, or harming ones self-worth) Sexual (forcing a sex act without consent) Stalking (harassing or threatening tactics that are both unwanted and cause fear) Virtual (repeated texting or posting sexual pictures online) WHAT IS TEEN DATING VIOLENCE?
In a 2012 survey, 9% of high school students reported being physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the previous 12 months. PREVALENCE
Adolescents are more at risks when they have any of these traits Believe it's okay to use threats or violence to get their way or to express frustration or anger. Use alcohol or drugs. Can't manage anger or frustration. Hang out with violent peers. Have multiple sexual partners. Have a friend involved in dating violence. Are depressed or anxious. Have learning difficulties and other problems at school. Don't have parental supervision and support. Witness violence at home or in the community. Have a history of aggressive behavior or bullying. WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
Just as in other forms of trauma, teen dating violence can have severe, lasting consequences including: Depression Poor school performance Substance abuse Eating disorders Suicidal thoughts, attempts Re-victimization WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?
Ask! Preferably with the adolescent alone, reminding him/her of the conditional confidentiality with the pediatrician HEADSSS examination Home Education Activities Drugs Sex Suicide Safety WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT?
Prevention – Building resilient children and families Identify strengths and protective factors Characterize healthy relationships Identification – Ask adolescents about the health of their relationships Maintain safety - Create a safety plan for the adolescent Refer to community resources – Build your list in advance Strengthen the patient relationship – Follow up with patient, especially when at risk ROLE OF THE PEDIATRICIAN IN THE MEDICAL HOME
It has to be reported to the authorities if there is a crime which has occurred injuries as a result of an assault It can be reported if the circumstances are not as clear Stalking, harassing DOES IT HAVE TO BE REPORTED?
Safety plan: Similar to that implemented in intimate partner violence Involves thinking ahead to possible scenarios and how to respond or prevent them from occurring in order to keep the adolescent safe Some examples include: HOW DO I WORK WITH THE FAMILY?
Information for the family: Teen dating hotline: Text loveis to DV hotline: SAFE WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
The CDC has a prevention strategy called Dating Matters ( Currently this is being implemented in large urban centers throughout the country WHAT ELSE IS BEING DONE?
Thank you for utilizing this component of the online training toolkit, produced by the American Academy of Pediatrics Medical Home for Children Exposed to Violence project. Additional resources on intimate partner violence and other similar issues can be found on the project Web site: Many thanks to Suzanne Haney, MD, FAAP for developing the content for this presentation. THANK YOU!