Building healthy relationships through prevention education

[aesop_character img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/OPINION-Commentary-Mitchell-head-shot.jpg” name=”Mary Ellen Mitchell” caption=”Executive director, The WomenShelter ” align=”left” force_circle=”off” revealfx=”off”] Statistics indicate that nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner each year. One in 10 high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by their dating partner. Reports further indicate that the severity of intimate partner violence is often greater in cases where the pattern of abuse was established in adolescence.
In response to the enormous need for youth-focused prevention education, WomenShelter of Long Beach (WSLB) is hosting a special conference: Building Healthy Relationships through Prevention Education on Feb. 24, from 8:30am to 2:45pm in recognition of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). Youth between 11 and 18 years of age and their adult parents or guardians are invited to join WomenShelter at this one day conference. Admission is free. A suggested donation of $10 is welcomed but not required for adult attendees; a light breakfast and lunch will be provided.
WomenShelter’s youth conference will focus on an emerging issue: the rise of social media use amongst teens and the way in which it is changing traditional forms of communication and peer interactions. The keynote presentation will be conducted by Dr. Kaveri Subrahmanyam, a leader within the field of social media and relationships. Receiving her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from UCLA, Dr. Subrahmanyam has published extensively on this issue. Dr. Subrahmanyam serves as the director of the Media and Language Lab at Cal State LA and is the associate director of the Children’s Digital Media Center, UCLA/CSULA.
Attendees, both youth and their adult caregivers, will be provided with a safe place to discuss the importance of building healthy relationships so that both child and parent can identify early warning signs of abuse and, in turn, prevent teen dating violence. Youth attendees will be engaged through focused presentations, education, workshops and discussions guided by WSLB trained Building Healthy Relationship Leaders. In addition, adult caretakers will receive information regarding teen dating violence, the harmful effects of abuse on children, building healthy relationships, and will be offered solutions about how to keep their children/teens safe. This awareness-raising event aims to help the local and larger community by providing important life changing education to individuals and families so that they can live healthy and safe lives.
To register for this event, please visit WSLB.org/BHR. Registration is open through Thursday, Feb. 22, and space is dependent upon availability.
If you have questions regarding this event or if you are interested in learning more about how to support WSLB’s life-changing victim or prevention education programs, please call Tatiana Dorman at (562) 437-7233, ext. 27 or you may contact her via email at TDorman@WSLB.org.
The mission of WSLB is to eliminate domestic violence through compassionate intervention, education and personal empowerment. Since 1977, WomenShelter of Long Beach has helped thousands of families overcome the trauma caused by domestic abuse. WSLB is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.