Arlette Hernandez MPH 659 University of San Francisco TEEN DATING VIOLENCE: A PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN

WHAT IS TEEN DATING VIOLENCE? A pattern of controlled behavior such as stalking, physical, sexual, or emotional violence that is exhibited toward one teenager by another in a dating relationship (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], Teen Dating Violence, 2014).

WHY IS IT A PROBLEM? 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 7 boys experienced rape, physical violence or stalking for the first time between the ages of 11 and 17 years old Teens who had sex by age 14 were more than 30% likely to have experienced one or more types of abuse in a relationship More prevalent among GLBT youth than among heterosexual students

CAUSES OF TEEN DATING VIOLENCE: Difficulty to communicate, manage uncomfortable feelings and lack of constructive ways to deal with frustration Economically disadvantaged communities Single-parent household Early onset of sexual activity

PAST EFFORTS: 1994-The Violence Against Women Act The month of February “National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month” Dating Matters Safe Dates

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? Model the Safe Dates curriculum in all California high schools. Create Public Services Announcements (PSA) in partnership with Loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline

SAFE DATES: Listed in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices Ten 50-minute sessions Defines definitions of caring relationships and of dating abuse Discusses causes Describes gender stereotypes Explains prevention Includes role playing scenarios and poster contest

SAFE DATES According to the California Department of Education there were 1, 304 High Schools in the school year. The goal is to target: Numerator :1,304 California high schools Denominator:All high schools in the United States

RESOURCES The Safe Dates curriculum will be implemented in California high school heath classes. All teens will be required to take it Teachers will be provided with the Safe Dates curriculum handbook Teachers will be educated on teen dating violence School will provide materials to create posters for final project Stakeholders: School district superintendents Health teachers

POLITICAL SUPPORT No political opposition for the proposed solution because it has already been used in schools. Its effectiveness has proven to be successful. 56% to 92% of teens demonstrated less victimization and perpetration.

LEGALITY In order for this proposal to be successful there most be a state-wide law within the California Department of Education that allows the topic of teen dating violence to be taught in high school health classes. SB This bill would authorize school districts in California to provide dating violence, sexual abuse and sex trafficking prevention education. - PENDING

SAFE DATES Acceptability- YES!!! Teaches teachers and students the tools to identify healthy relationships and signs of intimate dating violence relationships. Empower youth Replicable- YES!!! If successful in California high schools, the Safe Dates model curriculum could be implemented nationally.

SAFE DATES Sustainable- YES!!! The implementation of a teen dating violence curriculum within high schools will be sustainable as long as it continues to use the Safe Dates curriculum. Cost Effective- If more adolescents learn about teen dating violence and experience less violence = Less hospitalization Less mental health services Less suicide attempts Which ultimately is cost-effective for everyone!

NATIONALLY Create Public Services Announcements (PSA) in partnership with Loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline

PSA The PSA awareness campaign will target teens in the United States. It will collaborate with Loveisrespect to broadcast more commercials nationally The PSA will continue to be advertised in the media PSA’s will be shown on television networks where the audience is teenagers and adults

PSA Replicable- Yes!!! Sustainable- Yes!! As long as there is funding from Loveisrespect to continue to advertise the PSA’s. Cost Effective- The cost of this proposal all depends on the funding from Loveisrespect to support the PSA.

THANK YOU!

REFERENCE: California Department of Education (2013). Fingertip facts on education in California. Retrieved on May 5, 2014 from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014). Teen dating violence. Injury Prevention& Control. Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010). National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. Retrieved from Children’s Safety Network (2012). Teen dating violence as a public health issue Retrieved from ealthIssue.pdf ealthIssue.pdf Foshee, V., Bauman, K., Ennett, S., Linder, G., Benefield, T., & Suchindran, C. (2004). Accessing the long- term effects of safe dates program and a booster in preventing and reducing adolescent dating violence victimization and perpetration. American Journal of Public Health, 94 (4): Retrieved from

REFERENCE Loveisrespect (2014). Retrieved on May 5, 2014 from National Conference of State Legislatures (2014). Teen Dating Violence. Retrieved on May 5, 2014 from Office of Adolescent Health (2013). Dating violence. Healthy Relationships. Retrieved from violence.htmlhttp:// violence.html