Dating & Domestic Violence

Relational violence is reaching epidemic proportions in America.  No matter how long the violence has been occurring or to whom, it is time to put an end to it.  Relational violence is defined as any intentional physical/sexual, verbal, or psychological (mental and emotional) violence by one partner to another in a relationship.  All three can be found in both domestic (family or household member) and dating relationships and each causes extensive short and long term damage.

The goal of the perpetrator in relational violence is to gain power and control of his/her victim.  This process can occur face to face, but as technology advances, we are seeing it move into the cyber-world in the form of cyber-stalking.  Research has found:

  • More than half of Americans know someone who has been involved in relationship violence – either as a victim or as an abuser.
  • 60% of teenagers have experienced some form of abuse in a dating relationship.
  • Nearly 80% of girls who have been physically abused in their intimate relationships continue to date their abuser.

Relational violence is a major social problem that touches the lives of men, women, and children of all social, economic, and racial background. Victims and perpetrators can be any age, sex, race, culture, sexual orientation, religion, education, employment, or economic status.  Approximately 95% of the victims are women and children, but we can assume the remaining 5% of men are highly under-reported.  Relational violence is a process, not a person and it 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.

Abuse is not an accident.  It does not happen because someone was stressed-out, drinking, or using drugs.  Abuse is an intentional act that one person uses in a relationship to control the other.  One of the main reasons we hope to prevent relational violence or intervene with the abuse early, is that research shows that abuse is learned behavior that is created and reinforced by observation, not biology or genetics.  Therefore, the short and long term damage caused by exposure to relational violence is MORE violence and death.

The good news is, since this behavior is learned, it can be unlearned.  Through education, exposure, and skill training, we have the ability to stop this vicious cycle.

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.

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 licence 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.

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 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 promptors 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 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.