New Program Helps Teens Stop Dating Violence Filed under ( Education News ) by edy-koerniawan

New Program Helps Teens Stop Dating Violence : The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released information on a new program aimed at reducing teen dating violence. Choose Respect is an initiative that helps teens form healthy relationships to prevent dating violence before it starts. Violence within teen relationships has become more prevalent than ever.

According to "Dating Violence Facts" on the CDC website, about one in 11 teens reports being a victim of physical dating violence each year. A startling one in four teens reports verbal, physical, emotional, or sexual violence each year and about one in five high school girls has been physically or sexually abused by a dating partner. These facts are evidence of a disturbing trend.

The adolescent years are crucial in developing social skills. What teens learn during those years may have a profound effect on how they choose friends and mates as adults. Things such as good communication, honesty, and knowing one's limitations are important factors in a healthy relationship. Dating violence is associated with unhealthy sexual behaviors that can lead to unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV infections.

Choose Respect helps parents, caregivers, older teens, educators, and other caring adults motivate teens to challenge harmful beliefs about dating violence and take steps to form healthy and respectful relationships. The program has a 60-minute training video called Dating Matters for adults to understand the risk factors and warning signs associated with teen dating violence.

The Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence suggests looking out for the following signs that a partner in a relationship could potentially become violent.

• quick involvement
• extreme jealousy
• unpredictable mood swings
• abused former partners
• isolating his/her mate from their friends
• blames others for his/her problems or feelings
• explosive anger
• uses force during an argument
• verbally abusive

Conversely, if a teen is behaving in a violent way, the CDC offers the following suggestions:

• create a safe environment for discussion
• encourage the teen to talk but do not force him/her to open up
• thank the teen for sharing
• seek professional help for him/her through youth counseling or a hotline
• show the teen how he or she can maintain his or her desires and needs without using violent behaviors.

In many cases, the teen who is exhibiting violent behavior is suffering as well as the victim and his/her needs must also be met to break the cycle.