February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month!

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and Southern Valley Alliance (SVA) would like to call our community to action and Talk About It!

While SVA assists all victims of domestic abuse in Scott and Carver counties, it is important to highlight the prevalence and impact of dating violence on young people in our community. Nationally, this month is focused on advocacy and education to stop dating abuse before it starts. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1 in 10 high school students has experienced some form of physical violence from a partner in the last year alone, and over half (57%) of college students say it is difficult to identify dating abuse. Statistics like these demand us to speak up, break the silence, and Talk About It.

“Talk About It is the theme for Teen Dating Violence Awareness month 2022 and opens a door for adults and youth to have meaningful conversations about healthy relationships,” notes SVA Executive Director Christie Larson. “One of our goals at SVA is to educate teens about the dynamics of unhealthy relationships and empower them to talk to a trusted adult if they have questions or need help.”

SVA partners with local schools, churches, and organizations to talk about healthy relationships, teen dating violence, and other domestic abuse topics.  If you are interested in hosting a speaker or getting more information, please contact SVA at svamn.org or call (952) 873-4214.