Throughout the month of February, we will be adding to Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) to raise our communities knowledge on dating violence and its effects on Native youth in the state of New Mexico. This is to help provide support for young people who are experiencing violence and to encourage our Tribal communities to make a stand against violence alongside our Native youth. 

Our goal aligns with our organizational mission which is to advocate for social change to eliminate violence against our Native women and children. To create and advocate for social change, we must first start with acknowledging the violence that happens in our communities and to bring awareness with hopes to decrease the rates of dating violence and sexual violence towards our young people. 

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) is part of a national effort to raise awareness and protect teens from violence which began with Congress declaring the first week in February as national teen dating violence awareness week after the 2005 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. February was later dedicated to teen dating violence awareness and prevention by Congress in 2010. 

What is Teen Dating Violence – 

Teen dating violence (TDV) is known by many names which includes relationship abuse, intimate partner violence, relationship violence, dating abuse, domestic abuse, and domestic violence. Many times young people and adults are unaware that teens experience dating violence. Native youth are affected by the violence they witness & experience. 

• Almost 40% of children experience 2 or more acts of violence before the age of 8 (1).
• 75% of Native youth deaths age 12-20 are due to violence including intentional injuries, homicide, and suicide (2).
• Violent relationships in adolescence can lead to a higher risk of substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior, and domestic violence (3).
• 1 in 10 high school students have been hit, slapped, or hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend on purpose (4).

For more information or statistics, please go to: http://nativelove.niwrc.org/statistics/

Teen Dating Violence (TDV) is defined as a pattern of abuse, threat of abuse, and aggression in a relationship and can include stalking. This can be between a current or former dating partner in person, or electronically. The types of abuse present can include one or more of the following types of abuse:

• Physical abuseis the unwanted contact with you or something close to your body
• Verbal Abuseis using words to hurt, harass, or embarrass another person
• Emotional & mental abuseis harming another persons well-being and self-worth 
• Digital abuseis using technology to be abusive, harass, stalk, or intimidate another person
• Sexual abuseis any act of behavior that is pressured or forced without prior consent

Unhealthy relationships can begin early and its effects can remain for a lifetime. Often, dating violence and sexual violence can begin with teasing and name calling. Often these behaviors can be seen as part of a “normal” relationship, but can also become the foundation for more serious violence to take place in the future such as assault, stalking, and rape. The consequences of Teen Dating Violence can affect one emotional and mental development because young people are tremendously by their relationship experiences. Survivors of Teen Dating Violence are more likely to perform poorly in school, binge drinking, suicide attempts and ideations, and fighting. Survivors may also carry the burden of the patterns of violence in future relationships. 

to learn more How to Spot the Red Flags of Abuse, visit Strong Hearts Native Helpline – http://www.strongheartshelpline.org/how-to-spot-the-red-flags-of-abuse/

Our young relatives deserve relationships that are free from violence and abuse.

What is CSVANW Doing?

• To highlight Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM), Native Love Is, Strong Hearts Native Helpline, and CSVANW are co-hosting the #HealthyNativeLoveIs Photo Contest on Instagram. To learn more about contest guidelines, contest entry and prizes, check out  http://nativelove.niwrc.org/healthynativeloveis-photo-contest
• CSVANW will be posting shareable infographics throughout TDVAM that you are welcome to repost on your own social media networks to help educate and raise awareness
• Join us for one or both of our Live Streams on Instagram with CSVANW Staff! 
  • February 14^th–Consentwith our Sexual Violence Coordinator, Alegra Roybal
  • February 26^th– Power and Controlwith our Advocate Coordinator, Cecelia Westman

Ways to Make a Difference In Your Community

• SHARE: Encouraging your school, community-based organizations, Tribal leaders, parents, and relatives to come together to learn about dating violence and ways to prevent it in our homes and communities
• CALL IN: If you hear someone tell a joke that makes fun of sexual violence or teen dating violence, feel empowered to say something so the violence is not normalized. 
• ORGANIZE: Organize a campaign in your community or school to bring awareness about Teen Dating Violence. NIWRC has an amazing toolkit that you can also use for your community or school!And, NIWRC also has more information for Educators, Coaches, and Mentors to learn what they can do too!
• SHARE: Public Service Announcements from other Native Nations as examples in your communities and to inspire youth from your community/school to 
  • https://vimeo.com/310875874  
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUGRvo7HXbc&feature=youtu.be
• EDUCATE: Read and Share Blogs/Articles with your friends, family, educators, coaches, and Tribal Leaders
  • Strong Hearts Native Helpline – http://www.strongheartshelpline.org/healthy-relationships-dating-violence/
  • We R Native – https://www.wernative.org/articles/abusive-relationships
  • Native Love – http://nativelove.niwrc.org/multimedia/)?utm_source=phplist1027&utm_medium=email&utm_content=HTML&utm_campaign=NativeLove+%26+the+National+Indigenous+Women’s+Resource+Center++Recognize+Teen+Dating+Violence+Awareness+Month
• SUPPORT community education and outreach to increase knowledge that informs youth on consent, boundaries, and the right to make decisions for their bodies.
• SUPPORT age appropriate education in schools and community by peer-to-peer educators. 
• SUPPORT LGBTQ Native Youth by referring to them by the preferred name and pronouns.
• EDUCATE: Ask for direct service providers, educators, law enforcement, and tribal leaders to learn how to respectfully respond to violence against Native youth

Resources in New Mexico 

• New Day Shelter– Services to provide resources to youth in Albuquerque.

Temporary, emergency housing – call 715-682-9565 or 800-924-4132

DV Support – Call 715-682-9565 or 800-924-4132

Drop-In Center Open from Wed-Friday 12pm – 7:30 PM at 500 Mountain Rd. NW. ABQ, NM 87102.

• DreamTree Project – Emergency teen shelter, a transitional home and resources for youth throughout northern New Mexico

Call 24 /7 at 575-758-9595

Text at 575-770-7704

Emergency Youth Shelter is located at 128 La Posta Rd in Taos, NM

• Butterfly Healing Center – Residential treatment center for Native American youth ages 13 through 18.

Call 575-751-7688

1130 Butterfly Rd. 
Taos, NM 87571

• Transgender Resource Center of Central New Mexico– Services include groups, training, and drop-in center

49 Jackson Street NE
Albuquerque, NM 87108
Corner of Copper & Jackson

Call 505-200-9086

National Resources

• Love is Respect– 24/7/365 Services include empowering youth to prevent and end dating abuse.

      Helpline – 1-866-331-9474

Text “LoveIs” to 22522

• Crisis Text Line– Services include access to crisis counseling.

24/7 Crisis Support 

Text HOME to 741741

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Sources:

1. Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., Ormrod, R., Hamby, S., and Kracke, K. 2009. Children’s Exposure to Violence: A Comprehensive National Survey. Bulletin. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

2. Task Force on American Indian and Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence. (2014). Attorney Generals Advisory Committee on American Indian/Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence. Page 38.

3. Jay G. Silverman, PhD; Anita Raj, PhD; Lorelei A. Mucci, MPH; Jeanne E. Hathaway, MD, MPH, “Dating Violence Against Adolescent Girls and Associated Substance Use, Unhealthy Weight Control, Sexual Risk Behavior, Pregnancy, and Suicidality” JAMA. 2001;286(5):572-579. doi:1 0.1001/jama.286.5.572 

4. Grunbaum JA, Kann L, Kinchen S, et al. 2004. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance – United States, 2003. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 53 (SS02(; 1-96).