Teen dating violence seminar tonight

The Elmore County Domestic Violence Council (ECDVC) has scheduled a presentation about Teen Dating Violence on May 12, at 6 p.m., at the Mountain Home Police Department meeting room.

Rod Gere, the managing attorney for Idaho Legal Aid Services in Boise, is hoping for a good turnout.

The presentation is designed to help raise awareness about violence among teen dating relationships, to educate the community about assistance and prevention, and to eliminate the prevalence and cultural acceptance of teen dating violence.

"Teen dating violence is a rising problem," says Gere. "I want to help in any way I can, and I look forward to coming to Mountain Home."

Gere, who will also be the guest speaker for the ECDVC's annual Harvest for Hope Benefit in October, believes that comprehensive educational programs can help prevent teen dating violence.

"We can teach parents, teachers, school counselors and other community members about the warning signs of abuse and how to help," he said.

Topics will also include the prevalence of teen dating violence, knowing the different types of dating violence and learning how to talk to teens.

According to U.S. Department of Justice statistics, one in three teens report knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, slapped, choked or physically hurt by his or her partner, and one in five female high school students reports being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner.

Gere's presentation is free and open to the public. Seating at the Mountain Home Police Department is limited, so call 587-9091 to reserve a space.

For more information on Teen Dating Violence visit www.idvsa.org. The National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline is 1-866-331-9474.

Dating relationships can be abusive even if there is no hitting, an ECDV official said. Abuse can be verbal, emotional, sexual or physical.

In some relationships the abuse only happens occasionally while in others it can happen every day.

Approximately 70 percent of high school girls and 52 percent of high school boys who are abused report an injury from an abusive relationship.

One in three female teens in a dating relationship fear for their safety, according to surveys.

Teens who are victims of dating violence are not only at increased risk for injury, but are also more likely to report binge drinking, suicide attempts, physical fighting and current sexual activity.

Approximately 40 percent of teenagers age 14-17 report knowing someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend.

Nearly 80 percent of girls who have been physically abused in their intimate relationships continue to date their abusive partner, surveys show.