Freedom House offers help on teen dating violence

Freedom House Prevention Educators Tammy Ries (left) and Beth Anson offer free presentations on bullying, personal body safety, self-esteem, stress and anger management, conflict resolution, dating violence, sexual assault and date rape, sexual harassment, healthy relationships and more. To schedule a presentation, call (815) 872-0087 and ask for the Prevention Education Department. (Photo contributed)

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PRINCETON — The crime of teen dating violence, including physical, emotional and sexual assault, and harassment via texting, e-mail or Instant Messaging is a cruel reality for many American teenagers — a reality of which many parents are unaware. It is for this reason Freedom House offers free violence prevention education programs for teens in Bureau, Henry, Marshall, Putnam and Stark counties and, just recently, sponsored a poster contest to promote awareness.

The Henry/Stark County Domestic Violence Poster Contest Awareness campaign was announced at the beginning of the school year and was open to all ninth- through 12th-grade students. Mary Snyder of Galva High School was awarded first place for her entry, “Domestic Violence: Even if the scars fade ... the memories still remain.” Her poster has been made into a billboard and will be placed on the east side of Route 34 and Route 78, one mile north of Route 91 in Kewanee during the month of February.

Since its initial proclamation by the Senate in 2006, National Teen Dating Violence and Prevention Week is observed the first full week of February. Snyder’s poster and those of the other winners, Katie Schlicksup and Jenifer Kieser, second and third place, respectively, and honorable mention winners, Daniell Scheiterle, Hannah Roe, and Katie Elliott, were part of a traveling exhibit promoting the unveiling of the billboard, set for Feb.1.

“I have been lucky not to have been a victim of domestic violence or dating violence, but I know many people that have,” said Snyder. “I felt it was an important cause to support, and I hope that came through in my drawing.”

Serving the high schools in its five counties, Freedom House prevention educator Tammy Ries has created a curriculum specific to today’s teens, focusing on the issues of bullying in the high school, Internet safety, “sexting,” sexual assault and date rape, dating violence and healthy relationships.

“We explore the stress and pressure high school students feel today, being faced with bullying, cyber-bullying and hazing among other events, and the effects labeling and stereotyping have on their coping abilities,” said Ries. “We don’t just talk about it in a class setting, either. We offer free counseling with masters-level trained therapists for students who wish a more one-on-one interaction and, of course, they’re always encouraged to talk with me after class or at their convenience if they wish a more immediate and confidential setting away from the classroom.”

Ries also noted that one in five students admits to sending nude or semi-nude photos or videos via sexting and, during the program, discusses the ramifications of this type of transmission, both on an emotional level and the legal consequences that may come from it.
“And this only touches on two of the many programs we offer,” she continued, “Teens are being subjected to sexually violent hazing and other dangers that may just be coming to the forefront now. We want students to know there is help out there, that they don’t have to suffer in silence when someone is bullying or harassing them, and that our hotline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week with people that are trained and willing to help.”

Further national statistics on teen dating violence show that 62 percent of teens who have been in a relationship say they know friends who have been verbally abused, called “stupid”, “worthless”, “ugly”, etc. by a boyfriend or a girlfriend. Two in five or 41 percent of teens who have been in a relationship know friends who have been called names, put down, or insulted via cell phone, Instant Messaging, and social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace; and one in five 13- and 14-year-olds in relationships say they know friends and peers who have been struck in anger (kicked, hit, slapped or punched) by a boyfriend or a girlfriend.
“Of these statistics, less than half of these affected ‘tweens’ and teens claim to know the warning signs of a bad or hurtful relationship,” said Ries. “The work we do as prevention educators will combat that statistic.”

In addition to the programming provided at schools, Freedom House also offers free individual counseling, information and support, legal advocacy, medical advocacy, group support, safe shelter and a 24-hour hotline. That hotline number is (800) 474-6031, but for purposes of scheduling a presentation, call (815) 872-0087, and ask for Tammy Ries to schedule high school programming; Beth Anson to schedule Pre-K through eighth-grade programming; Dr. Becky Dees McMahon to scheduling teen counseling sessions; and Pam Busch for legal advocacy. All Freedom House services are free and confidential.

The poster contest will resume again next year in Bureau, Marshall and Putnam County high schools in the fall. For more information on how to participate, call Stephanie Cartwright, special projects manager, at (815) 872-0087.