It is clearly evident that parents and teachers must do more to prevent dating violence, and the best way to do so is by having conversations about relationships before these kids start to date. We need to have them with girls AND boys, because love and respect cannot be found on a one-way street. The social messages our kids are hearing about "hooking-up "are currently contributing to a maladaptive "rape-culture." Unless we counter-act the negative by reinforcing the positive aspects of relationships, we will continue to see a rise in teen suicides and incarcerations.
There is an event going on this week in high schools across America. The National Youth Advisory Board, sponsor of the Love is Respect campaign, has designated the week of Valentine's Day as "Respect Week." Part of the National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, the message of healthy, respectful relationships is being sent to youth at a time in life when they most need to hear it. For more information, please visit the campaign website.