HAVEN project aims at teen dating violence

Valentine's Day comes in February, but so does the sobering realization that teens in relationships may face physical abuse. This month, HAVEN launches a campaign to address the realities of teen relationship violence with their Art Van Charity Challenge.

The Oakland County-based agency providing shelter and services to victims of domestic and sexual violence was awarded a $15,000 grant as part of last year's Art Van Million Dollar Charity Challenge. The "challenge grant” has HAVEN calling on community members to support the campaign, which will fund Skills for Violence Free Relationships (SVFR) throughout Oakland County schools to as many as 3,000 teenagers. Donations can be made securely online at haven-oakland.org/challenge.

Nearly a third of teens report having been a victim of physical abuse or threats of violence. A unique outreach programs for schools, SVFR is designed to prevent dating violence and sexual assault by educating teens about healthy/unhealthy relationships, consent, how to intervene when a friend has an abusive partner and where to find help.

Art Van, in their commitment to HAVEN’s program, recognizes people need both knowledge and skills in order to prevent dating violence and sexual assault before it ever happens. HAVEN educators focus on promoting positive behaviors.

The need for HAVEN’s SVFR program is underscored by the fact that only a quarter of teens take a dating course in school, yet 84% of parents believe schools should provide relationship education. Further, 33% of parents are “uncomfortable” talking to their daughters and 27% to their sons about sexual abuse and 68% of teens with abusive or controlling partners do not confide in their parents at all.

Of teens ages 13-18 who have been in a relationship:

• 47% have been victimized by controlling behaviors from a dating partner. Examples include wanting to know where the person is at all times or preventing the person from seeing friends/family.

• 29% have been victims of sexual or physical abuse or threats of abuse including pressure for sex from dating partners.

• 24% have been victimized via technology from a dating partner such as calling to “check up” more than 20 times/hour or texting more than 40 times/hour.

• 11% have been victims of verbal abuse like being told they are stupid or worthless or that the other person will harm themselves if they break up with them. 

For more information, contact HAVEN, 248-334-1284.