Adults who use violence with their dating partners often begin doing so during adolescence, with the first episode typically occurring by age 15.
About 12 percent of high school students in the U.S. report being physically victimized by a dating partner in the previous year. In addition, one in four high school students say they’ve been psychologically abused by a dating partner in the previous year.
These are just a few of the statistics shared with legislators in support of SF 2077, a bill to require age-appropriate information about dating violence and prevention as part of required human growth and development courses. The goal is to raise awareness of what makes healthy and abusive dating relationships, equip students with the resources to help themselves or friends, and enhance the skills to develop healthy dating relationships, including positive communication, anger management and conflict resolution.