This marks the fourth year that the United States Senate has introduced a resolution declaring the first full week in February as a time to encourage local, state and national organizations, governments and private industry to call attention to the tragedy and pervasiveness of teen dating violence in communities nationwide. The crime of teen dating violence, including physical, emotional and sexual abuse, and harassment via texting, email or Instant Messaging is a reality for many American teenagers.

This year, Angie Alfonso, the Teen Services Coordinator at Womancare will be visiting each of the five high schools in the Penquis Region. There will be a display table in the lunchrooms offering information about healthy and unhealthy relationships, bookmarks and lollipops with tags celebrating healthy relationships. Each school library will be receiving donated books geared to what an unhealthy relationship might look like. The books include Things Change by Patrick Jones and Painting Caitlyn by Kimberly Joy Peters. Other activities include classroom presentations, distribution of purple ribbons symbolizing the prevention of domestic and teen dating violence and hanging tear-off posters in the locker rooms and lavatories.

On February 13th all students and community members are encouraged to wear white t-shirts and white ribbons to symbolize support for the White Ribbon Campaign, pledging never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls. Together we can make a statement in our community that relationship violence against anyone is intolerable at any age. Please offer your support by simply wearing a white shirt on Friday, February 13th!