Preventing Teen Dating Violence
By: Eyewitness News
Updated: February 13, 2013
Swiftwater, Monroe County-Teen dating.It's not just puppy love anymore.
Researchers say more teen relationships are turning violent.
"There's many things that are occurring withing the world of our teens that are very different then maybe he time that we grew up or we went to school." said Elizabeth Robinson, Superintendent Pocono Mountain School District.
The Weller Health Center found 19-percent of teens in Eastern Pennsylvania have experienced dating violence.
"We saw that in this part of Pennsylvania, Eastern Pennsylvania, it was twice the national average." said Melissa Lee, CEO of the Weller Health Education Center.
They don't know exactly why there's a difference.
But they want to stop it.
"We're trying to bring more awareness to teen dating and bullying and other red flags." Said Dan Reavy, Verizon Director of External Affairs
So Verizon gave the Weller Center a grant.
Twelve-thousand-five hundred dollars.
The money will pay for a computer program that trains teachers how to spot the signs of dating violence and help students in trouble.
"We need help with this, it's a major problem." said Lee
The Pocono Mountain School District will be the first in the country to try the four part program.
"We are so excited to be afforded this opportunity." said Robinson
They hope helping young people avoid violence, will help them have happy and healthy adult relationships.
The program developers hope to have teachers studying teen dating violence via webinar by this summer.
The classes will count for continuing education credits.
Researchers say more teen relationships are turning violent.
"There's many things that are occurring withing the world of our teens that are very different then maybe he time that we grew up or we went to school." said Elizabeth Robinson, Superintendent Pocono Mountain School District.
The Weller Health Center found 19-percent of teens in Eastern Pennsylvania have experienced dating violence.
"We saw that in this part of Pennsylvania, Eastern Pennsylvania, it was twice the national average." said Melissa Lee, CEO of the Weller Health Education Center.
They don't know exactly why there's a difference.
But they want to stop it.
"We're trying to bring more awareness to teen dating and bullying and other red flags." Said Dan Reavy, Verizon Director of External Affairs
So Verizon gave the Weller Center a grant.
Twelve-thousand-five hundred dollars.
The money will pay for a computer program that trains teachers how to spot the signs of dating violence and help students in trouble.
"We need help with this, it's a major problem." said Lee
The Pocono Mountain School District will be the first in the country to try the four part program.
"We are so excited to be afforded this opportunity." said Robinson
They hope helping young people avoid violence, will help them have happy and healthy adult relationships.
The program developers hope to have teachers studying teen dating violence via webinar by this summer.
The classes will count for continuing education credits.
