Stop Date Abuse Before It Starts

Seeing your daughter off on a date can give you the jitters. Although many dates will turn out fine, you still want your daughter to be prepared.

Date violence can happen to anyone. Abuse can be with words, with sex, or by hitting and kicking. Teens rarely seek help. So let your teen know about teen date violence. Knowing what to look for can help. Parents should watch for these warning signs:

• Bruises or injuries for no known reason.

• Skipping school.

• Bad grades.

• Changes in mood or personality.

• Use of drugs or alcohol.

• Sudden loss of interest in friends or activities.

• Refusing to let you meet a date.

• Unable to sleep

You should teach teen girls to know what abuse is. Teach boys too. Some may feel it is OK to control girls with violence.

Avoiding an abusive relationship is often a lot easier than getting out of one. That makes talking about it the key. Be sure to talk with your teen before abuse is an issue.

Need help?

Abuse is against the law. If you or someone you know is being abused, here's how to get help:

• Call 911 if you are in danger.
• Talk to someone you trust, like your minister or doctor.  Ask that person to help you find a counselor.
• Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline® at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800- 799-7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.  The hotline can tell you places to go where no one can find you, and it can help you make a plan to stay safe.
• Click onto any of these sites for more information:

                           - www.endabuse.org

                           - www.ndvh.org

                           - Keystone Mercy