TDVAM 2023

Every February, a month long national initiative takes place to bring awareness to teen dating violence. Similar to intimate partner domestic violence, teen dating violence can take on many different forms and has a significant impact on our community. When we think about abuse, physical abuse is the first form to come to mind but there are several more forms of abuse that are often missed and hard to recognize. Teen dating abuse can take place in person, online or through technology. Holding space to talk to teens about what healthy and unhealthy relationships look like is one way to help young people understand the difference. Relationships are hard but it’s not the hardships that make them unhealthy, it’s how partners react and treat each other during those hardships. 

Did you know?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• 1 in 3 young people will be in an abusive or unhealthy relationship.
• “Dating Violence,” is an adverse childhood experience that affects millions of young people in the United States.
• Many teens do not report unhealthy behaviors because they are afraid to tell family and friends.
• Youth who are victims of dating violence in high school are at higher risk for victimization during college.
• Violent behavior often begins between 6th and 12th grade.
• 72% of 13 and 14-year-olds are “dating.”

Learn more through the CDC’s Preventing Teen Dating Violence Factsheet.

“Be about it”

YWCA Spokane will be joining Love is Respect in magnifying the voices of young people and highlighting teen issues related to healthy relationships through this year’s theme “Be About It”, selected by love is respect’s Youth Council.

Join YWCA Spokane as we aim to educate, engage and empower our community about teen dating violence. Here is what we’re doing in the month of February to help bring awareness and education to Spokane:

• Wear Orange Day | February 7 | All Day
  • Orange is the designated color of TDVAM and all community members are invited to share photos on social media wearing orange in support of raising awareness for teen dating violence. Tag @ywcaspokane and use the hashtag #tdvam or  #YWCASpokaneTDVAM! 
• Pathways Forward | February 8 | 12:00pm-1:00pm
  • Join YWCA Spokane as we engage the community with key Spokane experts and YWCA staff in a progress-minded conversation about teen violence and how we can work to prevent violence before it happens.
  • Register here: https://ywcaspokane.org/event/pathways-feb8/#Register
• Teen Council Meeting | February 21 | 3:30pm – 5:00pm
  • The Teen Council’s mission is to promote healthy relationships, to shift the culture around violence and to empower youth to become change leaders in their community through education, advocacy, and activism around teen dating violence. We’re inviting teens 13-18 to join us in learning more about the council.

Here are more ways to be about it during TDVAM 2023:

• Follow our Instagram account @ywcaspokane and repost stories, reels, or posts about teen dating violence.
• Learn more about dating violence and it’s warning signs from @ywcaspokane and Love is respect.
• Partner with us to bring YWCA Spokane’s Healthy Roots prevention curriculum to youth at your organization.
• Encourage teens to join YWCA Spokane’s Teen Council.

Love is Respect

Love is respect was launched in 2007 as a National Domestic Violence Hotline project. At the time they were the first 24-hour resource for teens experiencing dating violence and relationship abuse; and remain the only teen helpline serving all of the United States and its territories. Love is respect offers comprehensive resources, support, and advocacy to engage, educate, and empower young people (ages 13-26) who have questions about their romantic relationships. They also provide support to concerned friends and family members, teachers, counselors, and other service providers through the same free and confidential services via phone, text, and live chat.

Learn more by visiting their 2023 Be About It Action Guide.

Beyond TDVAM 2023

YWCA Spokane’s initiative to raise awareness for teen dating violence goes beyond the month of February. Learn more about our prevention efforts and what we are doing to shift the culture of abuse in our community and how you can help prevent teen dating violence.