Casa Grande students observe Respect Week

Senior Sarah Soss, youth advisor to Guided To Safety will be facilitate Respect Week on the Casa Grande High School campus Feb. 9 through Feb. 13.  Respect Week activities will serve to raise awareness as well as focus on prevention of teen dating violence. Activities will include morning announcements, social media outreach, video discussions, a spirit day and an awareness display. 

One in three teens will be physically, sexually or emotionally abused in a dating relationship. The repercussions of teen dating violence are impossible to ignore. They hurt not only the young people victimized, but also their families, friends, schools and communities. Throughout February, organizations and individuals nationwide are coming together to highlight the need to educate young people about dating violence, teach healthy relationship skills and prevent the devastating cycle of abuse.

For years, young people across the nation have organized to put a stop to dating abuse. With their adult allies, they achieved a major victory in 2005 when the importance of addressing teen dating abuse was highlighted in the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

The following year, Congress followed the lead of dozens of national, state and local organizations in sounding the call to end dating abuse. Both the Hose of Representatives and Senate declared the first full week in February “National Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness Week.” In 2010 the entire month of February was dedicated to teen dating violence awareness and prevention.