Everyone deserves a healthy relationship…

Healthy relationship skills are not innate. They are learned. Youth deserve to have the skills and knowledge needed to engage in healthy dating relationships. DVCC is offering a wide variety of programs for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, with the goal of educating the community on healthy relationships, particularly young people and those in young people’s lives.

Help is available…

Teen dating violence is far more common than most people realize. In Connecticut, 26% of students surveyed, reported that someone they were dating or going out with, purposely tried to control them or emotionally hurt them.

If you or someone you know needs help with dating abuse, DVCC has  dedicated Youth and Family counselors who specialize in helping teens and young adults. Our services are free and confidential. If you are in crisis, call our 24-hotline at 203-588-9097. If you would like to make an appointment with one of our counselors, call our office at 203-588-9100.

Join individuals around the nation in wearing orange on Tuesday, February 7! Wear Orange Day aims to raise awareness of teen dating abuse and send the message that abuse will not be tolerated. 

Download our “Love is…” sign, fill in your answer, take a photo of yourself wearing orange with the sign and post your photo social media with the hashtags #TDVAM2023 #Orange4Love and tag @DVCCCT. 

Parents are well positioned to make a difference in their children’s lives. However, in a national on-line survey of parents with children 11-18 years old, nearly half (45%) had not discussed dating violence with their children in the past year. Reasons parents did not discuss dating violence with their children included they thought their children were too young to talk about it, they would not know what to say, and their children would learn about it through experience. We hope this guide helps parents discuss their relationship values and healthy, non-violent relationships with their children. 

This resource guide includes the following:  

• Important information on teen dating abuse, including statistics and dynamics of power and control  
• Warning signs  
• Conversation starters 
• How to support a child if they disclose abuse  
• A relationship assessment  
• Movie discussion guides for four movies: Grease, Beauty & the Beast, Sierra Burgess is a Loser, and To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.

Our Teen Resource Guide on dating abuse includes information specifically for teens on:

• Digital boundaries
• Red flags in teen relationships
• Navigating safe endings (break ups)
• How to help a friend experiencing abuse
• And much more! 

Download the resource guide and share with a teen in your life!

Novels can be a powerful way to learn about the dynamics around dating abuse. Local libraries will feature a display of books that have stories featuring teen dating abuse as part of the plot. Look for these book displays/lists at the public libraries in New Canaan, Darien, Stamford, Norwalk, Wilton, andWeston!