PADV in the News Responses to "Domestic Violence: Two Atlantans Share Stories," @issue April 1, 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Teach teens to avoid abusive relationships I applaud Angela Tuck for publicly sharing her personal story and Yolo Akii at Men Stopping Violence for stressing the importance of men holding other men accountable for their violent behavior against women. But what the Chris Brown and Rihanna story also reveals is that our teens and young adults accept abusive relationships as normal. There are resources available for adult survivors but rarely are there enough resources for teens, and yet teen dating violence is reaching alarming rates. Thirty percent of all homicides against teenage girls are committed by their male partners. Partnership Against Domestic Violence believes it's critical to reach preteens and teens while they are still forming their attitudes about dating. With education, patterns of abuse can be avoided before they become learned and engrained. - Cathy Willis Spraetz Spraetz is the president and CEO of Partnership Against Domestic Violence in Atlanta. |