This Year’s Teen Dating Violence Awareness Theme “Healthy Me, Healthy We!LAS VEGAS – Jan. 31, 2018 –Dating abuse is a major problem affecting today’s youth in every community across the nation. In fact, nearly 1.5 million high school students experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year, but only 33 percent of those teens in abusive relationships ever tell anyone. SafeNest, along with Break the Cycle and loveisrespect.org, are all working together to raise awareness for Teen Dating Violence throughout the month of February. With school outreach programs that focus on this year’s theme “Healthy Me, Healthy We! A Journey of Self-Love, Positivity, and Strength,” SafeNest aims to teach teens how to build healthy relationships with themselves in order to have healthy relationships with others.In addition to Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, SafeNest is also engaging in Respect Week from Feb. 12 – 16 by encouraging all to wear orange ribbons to raise awareness to the escalating problem of teen dating violence and asking all teens to take the Safe Dating Pledge. Encompassing the week of Valentine’s Day, Respect Week is dedicated to fostering healthy and positive relationships. If you are interested in evaluating yourself as a partner in a relationship, go to loveisrespect.org and take the “Am I a Good Partner” Quiz or go to breakthecycle.org and take their healthy relationship quiz.
Serving approximately 50,000 people annually, SafeNest is the primary provider of domestic violence services in Southern Nevada, is the only agency with access for 24/7 Emergency Temporary Protection Orders and has the largest, most comprehensive program for the entire state.A problem that impacts the safety and well-being of individuals, families and communities throughout Southern Nevada, domestic violence can take on multiple forms including physical, emotional and sexual abuse, financial control and social isolation. It affects all communities, regardless of socioeconomic status, race or religion. SafeNest serves battered women (or men), children or teens affected by family violence, adolescents in violent dating relationships, offending partners, family member or significant others impacted by the violence, at-risk individuals, and the community at large by offering a variety of programming and services including counseling, crisis intervention, individual and group therapy, residential services, protection order assistance and employment/life-skill classes. SafeNest aims to put a stop to all immediate abuse and break the cycle of abuse for generations to come.About SafeNestEstablished in 1977, SafeNest is Nevada’s largest and most comprehensive non-profit agency devoted solely to domestic violence issues. Serving approximately 50,000 people annually, SafeNest’s programs include a 24-hour confidential shelter, a 24-hour hotline and protection order services, counseling, advocacy, court assistance, and prevention education. For more information, please call 702-877-0133 or visit www.safenest.org.