This presentation provides an overview of issues surrounding teen dating abuse and violence at the middle and high school level.

1. See it Our Way:
Community Impacts of
Teen Dating Violence and
Abuse
Saliha Nelson, Vice President
URGENT, Inc.
saliha@urgentinc.org

2. SEE IT OUR WAY: Community
Impacts of Teen Dating Violence
This youth-led initiative for social change is geared to build awareness, educate our
peers and most importantly advocate for policy solutions that will help prevent Teen
Dating Violence and Abuse.
About The Campaign for Girls Well-Being
The Campaign is all about girls being and doing well inside, in families, in schools and
in communities. To achieve this result the Campaign promotes policy solutions that
promote girls well-being at the individual and systemic level while developing young
leaders and social change agents.
SUPPORT THE PREVENTION OF
TEEN DATING VIOLENCE ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES
About Rites of Passage
The Rites of Passage program helps girls find their voice to speak out against
& IN COMMUNITIES the threats to their well-being, lead community awareness activities, use
The Problem the arts, culture and media to spur positive change and engage in civic
About 1 in 11 teens report being a victim of dating violence each year action to promote solutions which will support their ability to make positive
About 1 in 5 high school girls has been physically or sexually abused by a life choices as they transition through adolescence towards adulthood. Girls
dating partner also engage in deep discussions about relationships, dating, body image, life
The Solution skills, avoiding risky behavior and prepare for higher education, job & career.
Promote prevention efforts through education, help young people define For More Information on this Campaign, please contact office@urgentinc.org
healthy dating relationships and involve youth in the solution
Provide communities with economic and community development URGENT Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 community based organization dedicated to
opportunities empowering young minds to transform their communities. We do this by
How You Can Help promoting shared leadership through empowerment, education and civic
Support our efforts to change institutional policy on school campuses that engagement to create collective well- being. Our vision is that all people
support prevention, youth voice and positive intervention have the social, educational and economic resources to thrive.
Provide financial support to sustain this campaign’s development,
implementation and lasting impact The Rites of Passage Program is Supported By
This Campaign is Supported By

3. Setting the
MIDDLE SCHOOOL
Context • 1 in 6 12-year-olds has experienced
physical dating violence in the past
six months
• 1 in 3 participants have witnessed
this type of violence among their
peers in the past
• 37 % of 11- to 14-year-olds have been
psychologically abused by a partner
• Nearly 1 in 3 students reported
being a victim of electronic dating
aggression in the last 6 months
• Teen Dating Violence has increased
by 40% since 2001 in Miami Dade
County
http://www.rwjf.org

4. Environmental Public
Policy
Factors
Community
Culture
Organizational
Institutional
Peers/Family
Interpersonal
Individual/
Intrapersonal

5. INDIVIDUAL

6. FAMILY
MOTHER I HEAR YOU
Mother I hear you
Are you listening to me my child?
Yes I hear
You are a strong black woman
Hold your head up my child
Don’t ever stand around and take this beating
Stand up my child
Mother I heard you
Are you listening my child
Yes I am Listening
-Brianna, Age 17

7. INTERPERSONAL
DESERTED CINDERELLA
LOST WITHOUT
WORDS

8. ORGANIZATIONAL
SHADOWED CONFLICT
In this case, the naked doll is masked by
darkness. The doll is the women that has
been broken due to teen dating
violence. The darkness has disguised her
identity therefore you will never know
those who are broken. Those broken
women are mothers, teachers, doctors,
mentors and great leaders of our
community that have be severely
affected by teen dating violence. Both
government and individuals have a lot to
do with the greater meaning behind this
image.

9. COMMUNITY
ALL IN ONE
When you look at this photo
you see all the colorful painted
wood with one brown wood
piece holding them together
with a lock. I can see that the
different color wood pieced
together represent the different
cultures and races in the
community. The brown wood
with the lock is the person who
recognizes the problem, and is
trying to get the message out to
the community. They attempt to
bring the community together
and build awareness.

11. PUBLIC POLICY
RENOVATION
This image is what we have to see day in and day
out...typically [people] pass it by without a care in
the world instead of having to deal with the reality
of it all. People make up in their minds that dealing
with teen dating violence is so uncomfortable and
sweep things under the mat or believe it doesn’t
exist at all. When I look at this picture I see an
issue that could be dealt with by the government
stepping in and passing legislation to help prevent
it and provide help to the victims. But, because the
community doesn’t take an interest, the
government won’t either. I believe that if everyone
just took the time to listen to our youth the
outcomes would be shocking about the truth that is
really hidden from adults.

12. RESOURCES
LOVE IS RESPECT - NATIONAL TEEN DATING ABUSE HOTLINE
(866) 331-9474
WWW.LOVEISRESPECT.ORG
SAFESPACEFOUNDATION
(305) 758-2804
WWW.SAFESPACEFOUNDATION.ORG
FLORIDA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE
(800) 500-1119
WWW.FCADV.ORG
URGENT, INC.
(786) 439-1544
WWW.URGENTINC.ORG
Follow us on Twitter #UrgentInc
MIAMI DADE POLICE DEPT, DOMESTIC CRIMES BUREAU
(305) 418-7272
BBREWER@MDPD.COM