Why we are here

Research shows that women ages 16 to 24 experience the highest per capita rates of intimate violence—nearly 20 per 1000 women and about one in three high school students have been or will be involved in an abusive relationship. Forty percent of teenage girls age 14-17 say they know someone their age that has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend and 20 percent of dating couples report some type of violence in their relationship. Violent relationships in adolescence can have serious ramifications for victims, putting them at higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior, suicide, and adult revictimization.

The severity of violence among intimate partners has been shown to be greater in cases where the pattern of violence has been established in adolescence, technologies such as cell phones and Internet have made dating abuse both more pervasive and more hidden. Research also demonstrates that 75% of parents were unaware that their teen had been physically hurt or bruised by their partner and only 33% of teens suffering dating abuse have talked to anyone about what is happening to them.

The Youth Advisory Council aims to increase the number of teens who receive information about Teen Dating Violence (TDV) and Shelter programs as well as increase the number of schools that permit TDV presentation and a broadened community awareness of Teen Dating and Domestic Violence. This will allow for teens in the community will feel empowered to create positive change, decrease Teen Dating Violence in Collier County and ultimately break the cycle of violence. The Youth Advisory Council aims to create this awareness and social change through Healthy Relationships presentations, public service announcements, community awareness campaigns, teen friendly materials, a teen hotline and having Youth Advisory Council members available in schools as ambassadors of The Shelter and its primary prevention and social change initiative.