Dating & Domestic Violence

Relational violence is a major social problem that touches the lives of men, women, and children of all social, economic, and racial backgrounds. Victims and perpetrators can be any age, sex, race, culture, sexual orientation, religion, education, employment, or economic status.  Relational violence is a process that flourishes in secrecy.  In Broward County, our students are suffering from many forms of violence, and often times more than one as seen through the data at our SBBC related webpage.

Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is combating violence of all kinds in our schools.  BCPS’s dating violence Policy 5010 prohibits dating violence and assures that its students are trained  in accordance to Florida statutes and laws.   Join us in our dating and domestic violence prevention efforts!

February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month

Broward County Public Schools supports Teen Dating Violence (DV) Prevention and Awareness Month every February.  This observance is part of a national effort to raise awareness about abuse in teen and 20-something relationships and promote programs that prevent it.  Take a look at the resources below and find out more!

BCPS Awarded Prevention Grant!

Broward County Health Department in partnership with Broward County Schools has been one of four to receive national award for “Dating Matters” Grant. On September 13, 2011, Vice President Joe Biden announced that Broward County Health Department is receiving a grant for $1.75 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to participate in a violence prevention initiative aimed at preventing teen dating violence. The grant is expected to cover five years and will be facilitated with BCPS’s Office of Prevention in select schools.  Read the Announcement to learn more about the award, and learn more about Dating Matters.

See also our related webpages on:

Resources and Links

Please Note: A program or website being mentioned here does not imply endorsement by the School Board of Broward County and does not necessarily reflect its views.  Please contact the program developers directly for the most current information.

Break The Cycle: empowering youth to end domestic/dating violence

Broward County Public Schools’ Child Abuse Domestic Violence

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Dating Matters – This 60-minute, interactive training is designed to help educators, youth-serving organizations, and others working with teens to understand the risk factors and warning signs associated with teen dating violence.

Discovery Health curriculum – Office of Prevention has purchased a site license for every school in the District and it has numerous lesson plans, videos and classroom activities. Access it via Broward County Public School’s BEEP Portal.

Department of Health, FL:  Sexual Violence Prevention Program (SVPP)

US Department of Justice:  Dating violence resources

First Call for Help, 211 Broward – “Help is Just a Phone Call Away!” A 24-hour, free, confidential telephone Helpline for crisis/suicide counseling, empathetic listening and community information and referrals for health and human services resources in Broward County. Just Dial 2-1-1 or (954) 537-0211 or access the directory online.

Keira Knightley’s domestic violence awareness video

Love is Not Abuse

Love is Respect

The National Center for Victims of Crime: The Youth Initiative, National Crime Victim Helpline 1-800-FYI-CALL (1-800-394-2255)

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline: 1-866-331-9474/1-866-331-8453

National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month Presidential Proclamation: February

National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month Teen Resources: February

National Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-800-442-HOPE (4673)

Reality Avenue’s “Relationships: What is REAL Love?”, ½ hour prevention programs created by Office of Prevention using Broward County students. Each and every show has FCAT and Sunshine State Standard classroom exercises created for teachers and counselors to use with their students.  To view this Reality Avenue show CLICK HERE.  To view the Reality Avenue Classroom Exercises and discussion prompters webpage, CLICK HERE.

SAMHSA’s National Mental Health Clearinghouse

Safe Dates – Office of Prevention has purchased access for this curriculum on Discovery Health and it is accessed via Broward County Public School’s BEEP Portal. Safe Dates can be purchased by others through Halzeldon

Switchboard of Miami, (305) 358-HELP (4357)

Teen Dating Violence Prevention Month: a national effort to raise awareness about abuse in teen and 20-something relationships during the month of February.

Teen Health, The Nemours Foundation

Women In Distress of Broward County – Broward Hotline 954-761-1133;  Provides victims of domestic violence with safe shelter, crisis intervention and resources, and educates the community in order to Stop Abuse For Everyone (SAFE) through Intervention, Education and Advocacy.