Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — It is not OK to hit, slap or otherwise physically hurt a boyfriend or girlfriend, or even call them hurtful names. That's the message the Utah Department of Health hopes to spread in its newest contest for teens.
With a growing number of teens falling victim to physical, sexual or psychological/ emotional violence, the state is asking teens to submit artwork, videos and written collections under the theme "What's Love Got To Do With It?" as a way to raise awareness of dating violence.
Last year, nearly 11 percent of high school students in Utah reported being abused by a significant other and the entire state recently earned an F grade from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention because of the difficulty that exists for teens to obtain a protective order through current laws.
While state law requires adults to report child abuse when they have reason to believe that it has occurred, still, much of it goes unnoticed. Officials believe it may lead to a pattern of more dangerous abuse, eventually ending in assault or rape, which can have serious repercussions for everyone involved.
"The thing that is most scary about it is that they learn these types of behaviors and take them into their adult lives where they can often turn into domestic violence situations and even lead to death," said Katie McMinn, who works with the state's Violence and Injury Protection Program. She said getting teens involved makes the most difference in their lives.
Having teens submit ideas also gauges their knowledge on the subject, informing advocates of where they need to focus for additional education efforts.
Teaching respect for one another, better communication and how to maintain healthy relationships is the goal of the program, McMinn said, adding that she hopes teens take such skills with them into adulthood.
Last year, lawmakers in Utah adopted a policy that would make age-appropriate materials on violence prevention available in Utah's public schools. Community partnerships are also being encouraged, to help youth prevent family and dating violence. Utah, however, does not have a specific law dealing with teen dating violence.
Laws in at least seven states urge or require school boards to develop curriculum on teen dating violence and at least 14 states considered legislation in 2009. As teen dating violence awareness week is approaching, on Feb. 6-12, the Utah Domestic Violence Council is again backing legislation that would give teens more protection, McMinn said.
Nationally, one in 10 adolescents reports being a victim of physical dating violence, while one in four reports verbal, physical, emotional or sexual abuse by a dating partner each year, according to the CDC. Its report also indicates that adolescents who report being physically hurt in a dating relationship were also more likely to report that they engage in risky sexual behavior, binge drink, use drugs, attempt suicide and participate in physical fights or bullying.
Other types of dating violence include name calling and put downs, extreme jealousy, controlling behavior, shoving, pinching or leaving bruises, unwanted touching and sexual abuse.
"Please realize that these things do happen," Caity, a survivor of a violent dating relationship, wrote on UDOH's website. "You may think to yourself, 'Oh, that will never be me,' and then suddenly you find yourself in a bad relationship, and a scary situation."
McMinn said teens can call the Utah Domestic Violence LINK Line at 1-800-897-5465 or contact a case worker with the Rape Recovery Center, which will provide local resources by calling 801-467-7273.
Utah lawmakers have carried legislation dealing with protective orders resulting from teen violence for at least four of the last five years, but each year it is abandoned due to concerns that such legal action might impede a person's future choices and be based on faulty or purely emotional information.
To increase awareness, teens are encouraged to visit the Utah Teen Dating Scene Facebook page for more information about the contest. The contest is open to all Utah students in grades 7-12. Entries are due Jan. 9.
E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com
