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press releases
The National Domestic Violence Hotline And Liz Claiborne Inc
Teen dating abuse survivors form a Teen Dating Violence
NEW YORK, NY - (September 21, 2006) - Recognizing the fact that few resources exist to help the significant numbers of teens who are experiencing teen dating violence, Liz Claiborne Inc. is collaborating with the National Domestic Violence Hotline to initiate and fund the first national teen dating violence hotline. The Teen Dating Violence Hotline will be operated by the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH), and will focus on teens and young adults up to the age of 24. Although there are national hotlines for adults, teens have special needs and require a different approach to dealing with their issues and privacy concerns.
The Teen Dating Violence Hotline will be staffed by trained professionals as well as young adult advocates who will provide services and support. Teens (and parents) anywhere in the country will be able to call the number, receive immediate advice and counsel with complete privacy and confidentiality, and learn how to tap into local resources to get the help they need. The hotline will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with teen peer advocates on the lines from 12 pm to 2 am, a time when many calls are expected. Young adult advocates ages 18-24 will also provide overnight services and support to serve more college-aged youth.
"When we first started doing research on the level of teen dating abuse in 2005, we were struck by the fact that teens were not telling adults that they were experiencing abuse. They were talking to their friends, other teens who were often the most ill-equipped to help. That is why this Teen Dating Violence Hotline is such an essential resource," notes Jane Randel, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Liz Claiborne Inc.
The statistics are alarming. According to a study conducted for Liz Claiborne Inc. by Teenage Research Unlimited, (TRU), 1 in 3 teen girls in a dating relationship have feared for their physical safety; 1 in 2 teens in serious relationships have compromised their beliefs to please their partner and 1 in 3 teens in serious relationships have been strongly controlled in what they do and where they go.
"We know the need is there for a hotline and Web resource devoted to teen dating violence," said Sheryl Cates, Chief Executive Officer, National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH). "Based on our cumulative research at NDVH, currently 10 percent of the 17,000 calls we answer monthly are from teenagers and young adults between the ages of 13 to 24. It is so important that Liz Claiborne Inc. has provided funding for a hotline that speaks to teens' specific concerns. It will enable us to target our resources and expertise to give them the information they need to have normal and healthy relationships."
To draw attention to this silent epidemic, Liz Claiborne Inc. has also created a Teen Task Force comprised of survivors and advocates who will raise awareness about the problem with other teens and educate them about the signs of abuse and ways to prevent it. The Love is Not Abuse Teen Task Force will also work with the NDVH to reach out to teens and parents nationwide for their ideas on shaping the teen hotline and providing input for the name of the hotline itself. Teen comments and opinions about the hotline can be submitted at www.ndvh.org/feedback.
"Teens want to feel that a hotline or website understands us. That is why a specific teen hotline is so essential to help stop the abuse," says Anya, one of the members of the Love is Not Abuse Teen Task Force.
In addition to providing a staffed hotline to call, the Liz Claiborne Teen Dating Violence Hotline will also use the Internet to provide a safe, confidential online resource that will house information on dating and relationship violence as well as online message boards where teens can ask questions and share experiences, or just express their feelings. There will also be links to local, state and national resources.
Following are stories of some of the members of the Teen Task Force who are going public with their personal and painful stories of teen dating abuse in order to underscore the urgent need for a national teen dating abuse hotline. These teens' stories are not uncommon.
Anya was 15 when she met a "nice" church-going boy. He quickly became controlling, manipulative and violent, ultimately forcing her to do things against her will. Nicci was a 14 year old "A" student when she started dating the bad boy jock that everyone wanted to date. He pushed her off a couch and she hit her eye causing permanent damage. Sarah was 15 when she started dating her high school's star football player. Right away he was abusive and controlling, kicking her so hard she was knocked unconscious. After she reported this to the authorities, his friends egged her house on several different occasions for putting the big football start in jail.
Jessica, a contestant in the Miss Missouri pageant, was in an abusive relationship for two years. The abuse started with insults and ended with cigarette burns and beer bottles broken over her head. Today she is in college studying to be a nurse and speaking out publicly about teen dating violence.
The Liz Claiborne Teen Dating Violence Hotline will be operational in Spring 2007.
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