Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month Published Feb. 16, 2016 By Senior Airman Kristoffer Kaubisch Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Did you know that in a recent national survey, 1 in 10 teens reported being hit or physically hurt on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend at least once in the 12 months before the survey? Additionally, during the 12 months before the survey, 1 in 10 teens reported they had been kissed, touched, or physically forced to have sexual intercourse when they did not want to at least once by someone they were dating. February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. It is an effort to raise awareness about dating violence, promote programs that support young people and encourage communities to prevent this form of abuse with the goal of decreasing the prevalence of dating violence among young people. To help raise awareness, Family Advocacy is visiting Memorial Middle School and the Youth Center on Minot Air Force Base to speak with kids and teens. More than 1 in 10 teens that have been on a date have also been physically abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the last year. Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month is a national effort to raise awareness and protect teens from violence. "Our hope for this program is that we can get kids and teens to recognize the warning signs of abusive relationships and to not get into them," said Laurel Grams, Family Advocacy outreach program manager. "If anyone finds themselves in an abusive relationship, we want them to be able to recognize the signs and be able to get out. One of the things we focus on is the dangers of the internet." A lot of kids think it will never happen to them. A fourteen-year-old can be talking to a forty-year-old pedophile online and not even know it. Then they may agree to meet up with them offline and get taken or kidnapped and never go back home or see their parents ever again. So many people don't know who they are talking to online--people can make up anything and pretend to be anybody they want to. "Usually if you're second guessing, trying to hide it or don't think you should tell anybody, that means there's something not right about it. It's probably not safe and will prevent issues for that person, said Grams. "A lot of the teens now, they are growing up with all of this being normal. Growing up with all these apps, this is just what they know. We aren't saying that some of these apps aren't fun and social media should not be used, but just to use them appropriately and to recognize the dangers and how to keep yourself safe." The presentation will also offer some safety tips for online bullying and what things are appropriate and what things aren't. "The presentation will touch lightly on cyber bullying, because that happens a lot between kids and even relationships. We will talk about how to tell the difference between what is considered appropriate and inappropriate content," said Sherri McKittrick, Family Advocacy team member. "If someone is exposed to inappropriate content, how would they address that? We will be going into texting and if someone sends something, it's out there and there is no way to get it back." Unhealthy relationships can start early and last a lifetime. Teens often think some behaviors, like teasing and name calling, are a "normal" part of a relationship. However, these behaviors can become abusive and develop into more serious forms of violence. That is why adults need to talk to teens now about the importance of developing healthy, respectful relationships. "Orange is the color for this month, for teen dating violence awareness month, so we are encouraging people to wear something orange to say no to teen dating violence," McKittrick said.