Building Healthy Relationships 2020

Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year. Often, high school students lack the knowledge to identify unhealthy relationship behaviors. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness does not stop there. Research shows that college students are not equipped to deal with dating abuse either – 57% say it is difficult to identify and 58% say they don’t know how to help someone who’s experiencing it. Increasing education regarding teen dating violence is critical because violent relationships in adolescence can have serious ramifications by putting the victims at higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior and further domestic violence.

In recognition of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, WomenShelter of Long Beach is hosting its third annual youth conference, Getting the Conversation Started. Youth (14-18 years old), college students, adult caregivers, and service providers are invited to join us in a safe space to get the conversation started about building healthy relationships, and consequently, communities for us to call home. The goal is to increase awareness regarding teen dating violence, the effects, and supportive resources available through interactive presentations, engaging conversations, special adult and youth workshops, and moving testimonies by survivors.