Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month: Cultivating Relationships That Last
February marks Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, a vital time for adults to engage with youth on abuse prevention.
February marks Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, a vital time for adults to engage with youth on abuse prevention. Teen dating violence (TDV) encompasses physical, emotional, digital, and sexual abuse within dating relationships. According to experts, early warning signs include extreme jealousy, controlling actions, isolating social connections, and constant digital monitoring. Studies show approximately 1 in 11 female and 1 in 14 male high school students experience physical dating violence annually.
Key Resources for Adults & Youth 
Adults play a vital role in helping young people recognize healthy, respectful relationships. These selected tools offer practical activities, curricula, and supports that are easy to integrate into youth programs during Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and throughout the year.
Dating Matters promotes healthy communication, boundaries, and early recognition of unhealthy behaviors.
Provides education, peer‑led engagement ideas, and digital abuse prevention tools.
Offers ready‑to‑use campaign materials, fact sheets, and communication guides aligned with the #RespectThat theme. These resources help adults start conversations about consent, respect, and healthy dating norms.
Features practical engagement tools such as a “How to Help a Friend” guide, a teen self‑quiz on relationship health, and social media content for awareness campaigns.
Provides interactive toolkits and digital boundary education including the ‘Dating Bill of Rights.’
TYAN Community Partner Spotlight
Cheryl’s Voice and Texas Advocacy Project provide survivor-led education and free legal services statewide.
LaTasha Williams, who lost her mother to domestic violence, founded Cheryl’s Voice as a survivor-led initiative dedicated to educating communities about intimate partners and teen dating violence. The organization offers powerful presentations such as “The Correlation of Teen Dating Violence and Sex Trafficking” and workshops that equip young people with the tools to recognize abuse, access resources, and build resilience.
The Texas Advocacy Project (TAP) provides comprehensive free legal services to survivors of teen dating violence and related abuses throughout Texas. Their services include a toll-free Hope Line (800-374-HOPE), support with protective orders, and guidance on safety planning and civil legal issues like housing and custody, empowering teens to achieve long-term safety and justice.
Action Plan
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month is more than a campaign; it is an opportunity to create lasting change.
- By hosting a one-hour workshop using curricula like Dating Matters,
- coordinating school or community campaigns with poster contests and pledges,
- and scheduling small group sessions on boundaries, consent, and digital safety,
WE CAN EMPOWER YOUTH to build healthy relationships.
Do not stop there! Track engagement, encourage ongoing integration through monthly check-ins, and connect families to local and national hotlines for continued support. For more ideas and educator resources, visit Teen DV Month Educator Resources.
Together, we can cultivate relationships that last; safe, respectful, and rooted in trust.