Events planned for Teen Dating Violence Prevention Awareness Month

  • Published
  • By Kevin Gaddie
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs

February is Teen Dating Violence Prevention Awareness Month.  It is a national effort to raise teen dating violence awareness.

Team Eglin is proactive in building a strong community through education and encouraging healthy teen relationships, according to Dr. Wendy Blevins, violence prevention integrator.

“We are addressing teen dating violence before it occurs,” she said. 

Blevins said one-third of U.S. teens will be physically, sexually or emotionally abused in a relationship before adulthood.  This can lead to depression, anxiety, substance abuse or anti-social behavior.  Of that number, 33 percent of those teens don’t disclose the abuse.

Parental and adult involvement are necessary in teen dating violence prevention, she said.

Teen Dating Violence Prevention Awareness Month training sessions are at the Youth Center every Wednesday in February at 2:45 p.m.  Anyone with base access can attend.  

  • Feb. 5 – Introductory presentation
  • Feb. 12 – Presentations by base speakers   
  • Feb. 19 – Presentation by Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
  • Feb. 26 – Teen self-defense class by 96th Security Forces Squadron

“When we teach teens skills needed for healthy relationships, we create healthy, safer communities for everyone,” Blevins said. 

For more information, call 883-4338.