New study shows dating abuse prevention programs are effective in NYC middle schools
A scientific study on the effectiveness of dating violence prevention programs was conducted in 30 New York City middle schools, involving over 2,500 students. Of these students, 20% identified as having been in an abusive dating relationship. The study, Shifting Boundaries: Final Report on an Experimental Evaluation of a Youth Dating Violence Prevention Program in New York City Middle Schools was funded by the National Institute of Justice and the Office of Safe and Drug-free Schools, US Department of Education.
February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.
Join DASH, The White House, state legislatures and national domestic violence prevention websites in spreading the word on how to recognize and prevent teen dating violence.
Read the President Obama’s proclamation from the White House.
Woodson High School
The senior class of Woodson High School was riveted by the DVD of Siobhan’s Story when Wendy Claunch presented DASH on January 27th, 2012. A badly-timed fire alarm interrupted the session, forcing an abbreviated message. However, the students were receptive to the early warning signs of teen dating abuse and Wendy hopes to return to Woodson in the near future to give the students the full presentation.
Madison High School
On December 9, 2011, Wendy Claunch (DASH) and Heather Sarmiento (Fairfax County Office for Women and Domestic & Sexual Violence) were invited to speak by Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia. Two separate presentations were made—one to the boys and one to the girls of the senior class, both groups, totaling 460 students watched Lynne and Andy Russell tell Siobhan’s story in a newly produced video. Wendy and Heather then spoke about the early warning signs of teen dating abuse as well as tips on how to help a friend who may be in an abusive relationship.