Today is Wear Orange Day for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month!

Written by: Amanda Briggs, Community Engagement Specialist at Rise Above Violence

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM), and today is the local Wear Orange Day to support teens in our community. This month, we raise awareness regarding the heartbreaking realities of violence teens face in their romantic relationships. One in 10 high school students has experienced being purposefully hit, slapped, or physically hurt by a romantic partner, 1 in 3 girls in the US is a victim of physical, emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating partner, and only 33% of teens in an abusive relationship ever told anyone about the abuse. Despite these startling statistics, many people believe teen dating violence does not exist. We are here to change that misconception.

Youth Above Violence here in Pagosa Springs is dedicated to improving the lives of youth in our community through education regarding healthy beliefs and behaviors and establishing positive social norms regarding relationship violence. We have a robust educational campaign about teen dating violence on our Rise Above Violence social media platforms this month, so follow along, wear some orange with us today, and check in on the teens in your life!

Our 24/7 hotline can be reached at 970-264-9075 if you need to talk to an advocate. All programs and services are free and confidential.