NextStep Calls for Bold, Honest Dialogue in Honor of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

ELLSWORTH – February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) and NextStep Domestic Violence Project has created ready access for the community to support, educate, and provide healthy connections for youth in Downeast Maine.

Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide reported abuse from a dating partner in just one year*. “While this oftentimes isn’t a comfortable conversation to have with young people, it’s critical that we actively create this dialogue, not only to share the information and resources young people need to learn about what dating violence looks like, but also to model that they can talk about it and reach out for support if they should need to,” said Alli Williamson, NextStep’s Youth Education and Prevention Coordinator.

“Young people are not born knowing how to be in relationships in healthy, safe, equitable ways,” Williamson added. “We learn through examples set for us, information shared with us, and how our culture or community responds to us. That’s why for TDVAM NextStep will be spreading tools to help start the hard conversations, share essential information, and encourage a shared, public investigation of what healthy, empowered love is.”

During TDVAM community members are welcome to view postings by students about what love means to them, what they hope for, and what they deserve on “Love Is…” collages at the University of Maine Machias, and at Dragonfire Pizza, Ellsworth.

Feb. 8th is National Wear Orange Day to show support for youth. People are encouraged to join NextStep staff in rallying friends, co-workers, students and educators to wear orange, take pictures, and tag NextStep on social media: #TDVAMwithNSDVP

A special episode of NextStep’s Relationship Rewind podcast, made in partnership with WERU-FM Community Radio, will be broadcast: https://archives.weru.org/category/relationship-rewind/. Host Alli Williamson and a young adult guest will discuss depictions of dating violence from the TV show Euphoria. The podcast will include how youth can find support and help one another.

Throughout the month, NextStep’s Facebook page will share content designed to illustrate how to recognize dating violence/abuse, how to build equitable relationships, and how to access support. NextStep encourages these posts to be shared with others, everywhere.

Young people who have questions about relationships, family dynamics, or those who wish to support a young person are encouraged to call NextStep’s 24/7 free, confidential helpline: 1-800-315-5579

Youth education workshops are also available for schools and community organizations throughout Washington and Hancock Counties. Contact Alli Williamson: awilliamson@nextstepdvproject.org / 800-315/5579

*CDC, “Physical Dating Violence Among High School Students—United States, 2003,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, May 19, 2006, Vol. 55, No. 19.