Posted by 12th grade TeenSafe Advisors Annie, Rebecca, Sasha, and Ruth
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, which highlights a prevalent issue in our society today. The media publishes many numbers, facts, and stories about how prominent teen dating abuse is including the alarming statistic that one in three teens in the US is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating partner.
As members of TeenSafe, JF&CS Journey to Safety's response to dating abuse in our community, we learned about self-respect, healthy relationships, warning signs of abuse, and appropriate ways to address the issue with our friends. We believe that a major part of preventing dating abuse is to prepare teens with ingredients for a healthy relationship. Help us to share our recipe for healthy relationships with all the teens you know:
Ingredients
- Trust
- Support
- Loyalty
- Communication
- Mutual respect
- Fun
- Safety
- Honesty
*All ingredients in equal parts
Directions
Look for these ingredients in a relationship. Review recipe with your significant other and make sure you have all ingredients before beginning relationship. Refer back to recipe during the relationship to make sure you don't forget anything.
- Start with a strong amount of trust, which should rise as relationship progresses.
- Add loyalty and honest support as well as good communication.
- Stir in mutual respect and sprinkle in desired amount of fun and humor.
- Finally, foster relationship in a safe environment and always communicate with significant other to make sure both are happy with the relationship.
In case any issues arise, check out the following resources:
For more information on healthy relationships, follow JF&CS on Twitter to see reminders throughout this month of how #LoveShouldBeSafe. For general information and support, contact JF&CS Journey to Safety at 781-647-JFCS (5327).
