Is your teen one in three who wants to become a victim of dating violence? Here are Ten Tips for Parents to talk about with their teen – you can empower your teen and here are some of the tools to help you. Before I give you the first ten tips, there are some things you and your teen need to remember: * You have the right to a healthy relationship. * You deserve better. Do not put up with abuse. * You are not alone. Teens from all backgrounds are, have been in, or know someone in an abusive relationship. * You have done nothing wrong. It is not your fault that your partner abuses you. * The longer you stay in an abusive relationship, the more intense will become the violence. It does not get better over time. * Being drunk or high is not an excuse for abuse. * No one is justified in attacking you just because he or she is angry. DATING TIPS ON VIOLENCE: 1 Abuse in a dating relationship can be confusing and frightening at any age. But for teenagers, who are just beginning to date and develop romantic relationships, this abuse is especially difficult. 2 Surveys show dating violence is not uncommon among teens. When is the physical or sexual abuse, it can be easy to identify. Emotional abuse is much harder to recognize, but no less damaging. 3 Dating violence can be tough to talk about honestly. It can be uncomfortable to bring up and embarrassing to acknowledge. But with dating violence a fact of life for many teen couples, we’ve got to break the silence. 4 Sometimes it’s easier to explore thoughts and feelings using this kind of example than it is to talk about our own experiences. A Dating Violence Sceniro Brenda is 15 and has never had a boyfriend before. She recently started dating Frank. She thinks he is so cute. Her friends all tell her how lucky she is because she has a boyfriend. At first, Brenda sweet it was thought that Frank began calling her all the time. He always wants to know with whom she is, where she is, and when she’ll be home. He has told her that she was meant to be with him and only him, forever. Recently, Frank has started belittling her in front of his friends, insulting her and telling her she is fat. It manufactures not want to spend time with some of her friends – he thinks they are a bad influence. He threatens to break up with her if she would do what he says, and that no one else will ever want. Brenda Frank wants to make happy. In fact, she’ll do anything to keep her boyfriend. She things this is what being in a relationship is all about. 5 Relationship violence starts or as often emotional and verbal abuse can quickly escalate into physical or sexual violence. And although many teens know of at least one student who has been a victim of relationship violvence, most parents either do know it exists or not know it is an issue. 6 Relationship Violence is a pattern of behavior used by someone to maintain control over his or her partner. 7 Relationship violence can take the form of verbal, physcial, with emotion, or even sexual abuse. 8 Relationship Violence is not about getting angry or having a disagreement. 9 In an abusive relationship one is afraid of partner and the other by intimidated. 10 How often does it happen? 24% of severe injuries and deaths occuse when the victim is tryng to leave or has already left the relationship. Relationhsip violence is the number one cause of injury to women between the ages of 15-44. 63% of date rape victims are young women between the ages of 14 and 17 70% of pregnant teenagers are abused by their partners.