Ending Violence against Women and Teen Dating Violence Article

							Ending Violence against Women and Teen Dating Violence: The Annual Forum for Advocates




                          CDPH's Jacquolyn Derr, Annette DiPirro, Barb
                       Alberson, Stacy Alamo Mixson, Mina White, Nancy
                         Bagnato and April Hillyer organized the event.

Earlier this summer, people from around California gathered in Sacramento for the sixth-annual
Ending Violence against Women and Teen Dating Violence: A Forum for Primary Prevention
Advocates, presented by the Violence Prevention Unit of the California Department of Public
Health’s Safe and Active Communities Branch. Nearly 200 people attended this year’s event,
including more than 40 youth leaders from around the state. The three-day Forum offered an
ideal setting for individuals dedicated to preventing relationship violence to meet and
collaborate on prevention strategies.

The Violence Prevention Unit supports several statewide programs to prevent domestic
violence, sexual violence and teen dating violence, with the ultimate goal of preventing first-
time occurrences of violent or abusive behavior. Staff proposes that prevention can be
accomplished by creating more positive social norms that support healthy relationships
and promoting leadership opportunities for youth.

                                                    The first two days of the Forum featured a
                                                    separate youth track (left) that highlighted
                                                    workshops and sessions facilitated by and
                                                    for teens. The ideas for the break-out
                                                    sessions and workshops were inspired by
                                                    teens focusing on what they wanted to learn
                                                    about violence prevention. With help from
                                                    Leading to Change, an organization from
North Carolina, music, games and laughter filled the youth track room       throughout the
three-day event.

The third and final day of the Forum welcomed adults into the youth track to promote
collaboration and intergenerational partnerships among participants of various ages. The day’s
keynote speaker was Raquel Martinez, a youth leader from Girls Inc. of Alameda County.

Raquel shared results from a teen dating violence survey conducted by youth leaders in
Alameda County. The findings included that 87 percent of teens are in relationships or have
been in an intimate relationship; 76 percent said that physically hurting a dating partner is a
serious problem for teens; and 48 percent reported having been in a violent relationship or
knowing someone who has been.
The Forum brought to light the importance of adults and teens working together as allies in the
fight against teen dating violence and violence against women. The youth advocates inspired the
adults by sharing their experiences and beliefs of prevention of teen dating violence in their
communities. The young people were asked about challenges they expected to face when
moving forward to engage others in this work. Some mentioned the lack of adult allies and
parental support. Others brought up the issue of lacking resources.

With these and other issues in mind, the Forum was very successful in helping to unite teens
and adults with a common goal. The group was able to work together in identifying challenges
and the solutions that will work best in their communities.