The recent passage of House Bill 19 will have an enormous impact on the prevention of dating violence and consequently, domestic violence, according to Paula Roller, Executive Director of Turning Point.

The bill, which goes into effect on March 29, 2010, basically mandates schools to provide education about violence in dating relationships for grades 7-12 and requires that specified staff members (nurses, teachers, counselors, school psychologists, or administrators) be trained about violence in dating relationships by October 2011 and every five years after the initial in-service takes place.

HB 19 was introduced in part due to the efforts of the parents of Tina Croucher, an 18-year-old Middletown woman, who was killed in 1992 by an abusive boyfriend who then turned the gun on himself.

Just how pervasive is this problem? The following is from a 2000 special report from the Department of Justice:

• About one in three high school students have been or will be involved in an abusive relationship.
• Forty percent of teenage girls ages 14 to 17 say they know someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend.
• One study found that 38 percent of date rape victims were young women from 14 to 17 years of age.
• In 1995, 7 percent of all murder victims were young women who were killed by their boyfriends.

Dating violence is a growing issue that has recently come to the forefront. In recognition of Teen Dating Violence Month Vice President Joe Biden, author of the landmark 1994 Violence Against Women Act, recently stated: “After fifteen years of working to end domestic violence, we have learned that teens are not immune from abuse in relationships. Teen dating violence is all too common, and ends up leading to vicious and unhealthy cycles for years to come. Our responsibility – as parents, teachers, mentors and community leaders – is to guide our young people towards respectful relationships free from harassment and abuse; teach them that it’s ok to walk away from a bad situation; and encourage them to speak out when they see a friend in trouble. In many communities, teens themselves are leading the way in organizing their schools and communities to stand against violence. I commend them.”

Turning Point has positioned itself to assist school districts in our six county service area as they strive to develop curricula and in-service materials to fulfill the new requirements set forth in the bill. Joyce Johnston, our Prevention Coordinator, is available to work with administrators and staff in this effort. She has developed materials for use in classrooms and for staff in-service training. Her position is funded by a Justice Assistance Grant provided by stimulus dollars.

Superintendents and Curriculum Directors should be expecting a letter from Joyce and please don’t hesitate to look to Turning Point for expertise in the area of dating violence. Turning Point’s goal is to provide free, pertinent information to our schools and communities.

Turning Point offers a 24-hour hotline for victims of domestic violence. If you or someone you know needs help or if you would like more information, please call (800) 232-6505 or (740) 382-8988.

Turning Point is a non-profit agency. Funding comes for a variety of sources including the United Way and the Delaware/Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board.