Teen DV Month Has Come to an End

Thank you all for helping me raise awareness this past month!

It's now time to announce the winners of my ebook giveaway....(drum roll, please)

Okay, here's the deal. I couldn't pick just one winner because everyone help me so much in raising awareness on teen dating violence, so I decided to choose 4 winners. Yep, you heard that right--four.

Here goes...

And the winners are: Leigh Covington, Casie Hartley, PK Hrezo, and Susan Deuel Schleicher

Congratulations to everyone. Thank you all!
 (I will email with your prize...but please, if you don't hear from me, email me. I may have your address wrong.)


Although February has come to an end, raising awareness on teen dating abuse definitely doesn't have to. Help me to continue to spread the word.

Stand up and Speak Out

A few final words...

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship it is import to get help.

Please make sure you are safe.

Do not isolate yourself.

Go to a trusted adult or friend.

Get in tough with a trusted organization. These organizations have professionally trained staff to listen, understand, and help.

Other places/people to go to include: religious leaders, school nurses, teachers, school counselors, doctors, and other health professionals can be sources of support and information.

Make sure you find a support system.

Get legal help. Assault and rape is illegal.

Help others. Chances are someone you know is in an abusive relationship.

Some great organizations...

loveisrespect.org
datingabusestopshere.org
kidshealth.org


Loveisrespect.org is selling (really cute) t-shirts to continue to spread awareness and to raise money to continue to train peer counselors and provide in-person healthy relationship training to students. Check the tees out!

Dating Violence Knows No Boundaries

It does not discriminate.

It runs across all race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, nationality, geography, age and social-economic lines.

No one is above it.

No one is immune to it.

And no one deserves to be abused.

Did you know that the prevalence of dating violence among LGBTQ (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning) adolescents is similar to that of heterosexuals?

The truth is that 1 in 3 teens and young adults (straight, gay, bisexual...anyone) experience some form of dating abuse.

In many ways, domestic violence in LGBTQ relationships is the same as in opposite-gendered/ heterosexually-paired relationships and includes but not limited to: emotional abuse, sexual abuse, digital abuse, financial abuse, physical abuse, and stalking.

It is a myth that LGBTQ battering is mutual.

Resources for LGBTQ is limited, and gay/bisexual/transgender men who are in an abusive relationship have much more difficult time finding support than those in a heterosexual relationship.

Because the LGBTQ community is small in many areas, anonymity is not an option for many.

There are many obstacles that LGBTQ individuals face such as: Shame and embarrassment--an abuser may use this against his/her partner to exhibit control and power. Fear of not being believed--a victim may worry about not being taken serious if he/she reports the abuse because of common stereo-types like abuse is mutual, it just doesn't occur, or can only happen to a female in a heterosexual relationship. Fear of retaliation, harassment, rejection, or bullying. Lack of knowledge of legal protection--many victims may not be aware that they have legal options for protection -- including obtaining restraining orders.

Regardless, everyone deserves a healthy relationship and everyone needs to know that there is help and resources out there.

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship or has questions about their relationship please contact:

The hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE http://www.thehotline.org/

OR:

Loveisrespect.org

or text "loveis" to 77054


















Resources: loveisrespect.org, http://www.newhopeforwomen.org/gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgendered-domestic-abuse, National domestic Hotline

Excerpt from Break From You and Giveaway

Break From You 

(ya contemporary, literature & fiction, romance, tough issues)

He took a step forward, and I took a step back, so he stopped. “Please,” he said. “Please, I am so sorry.”

I let him walk up the stairs. I wasn’t sure why. I was still furious with him. But I was also in love. Sometimes love has a way of winning.

He wrapped his arms around me, and I leaned against his chest. I could feel his warmth radiate through me, but I didn’t feel safe. “I love you,” he said into my hair. He kissed me on the top of my head before he lifted my chin and kissed me on the lips. When he pulled away, he said, “I love you more than I have loved anyone. You mean everything to me, and I don’t want to lose you. What we have is amazing, and we can’t let what happened tonight overrule all the good times we’ve had.”

What he said hovered in the air as I remembered back to our first date, how he picked that rose. I remembered the torn-out magazine pictures, the drawings, the hugs, the kisses. I remembered the soft words, the strong embraces. He made me feel wonderful, incredible. It was hard to forget. It was hard to let go.

“Please, give me another chance. I won’t let it happen again,” he said as he touched my face and kissed me again.

And even though I knew I shouldn’t, even though something deep down told me not to, I did. I gave him another chance and I believed him. I believed him when he said it would never happen again.

“I love you,” he said.

And I believed that, too.

Because sometimes…love has a way of winning.

Don't forget about the giveaway!!!

Giveaway to Raise Awareness on Teendvmonth

February in Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

and to raise awareness on teen dating violence I am giving away

an ebook copy of Break From You

Love shouldn't hurt this much...

Brooke Myers wants to believe she has it all: 

the perfect guy, the perfect relationship, the perfect life.

 She wants to believe it so much that she's willing to overlook the fear, the isolation, and the pain her boyfriend has caused her. She knows it isn't right but tells herself that love isn't always easy. However, when a fire destroys the restaurant during homecoming dinner, she forms an instant bond with the boy who saves her, one her boyfriend wouldn’t like. 

With the pain of a concussion reminding her of how bad things can get, she is forced to re-evaluate the relationship she has with her boyfriend and face the ghosts that haunt her. Brooke once believed love was all it took…but is it enough?

 Is it truly love when you've lost yourself in it?

Love is Respect National Announcement

As part of Respect Week for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, I am joining in on Loveisrespect.org and teendvmonth.org's National Youth Advisory Board's National Announcement.

Instead of just re-writing the announcement here on my site, I decided to try a video. And what fun! I spent most of yesterday taping, editing and figuring it all out. The first half of the video is the announcement from Loveisrespect.org and the second half is my play on the Love is... slogan that they use for their campaign. Let me know what you think...




I hope everyone has a safe and happy Valentine's Day!


Notes and Credits:
National Announcement by Loveisrespect.org and the National Youth Advisory Board

Announcement from Respect Week 2013 Guide
http://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/teenDVmonth-youth-guide-2013.pdf

As part of Teen Dating Violence and Awareness Month and Respect Week

The Loveisrespect National Youth Advisory Board created Respect Week as a special way for people  to raise awareness during February’s annual Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.

 

If you or someone you know has questions about their relationship, please go to loveisrespect.org or text "loveis" to 77054

Music- Love is Light from Loveisrespect.org