February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. To help give teens the information they need to protect themselves, the House of Ruth is planning an awareness campaign.

They stated that “We are always looking for community partners and we hope that you may be one of our strongest. Did you know that:

· 1 in 3 teens will experience dating violence before they complete high school

· 1 in 3 teens report knowing a friend who has been physically hurt by his or her partner through violent actions including hitting , punching, kicking, and slapping and /or choking.

· 1 in 3 teens that were in a relationship said their boyfriend/girlfriend wanted to know where they were and who they were with at all times?

· The incident rates for violent dating relationship are higher than those for bullying, gang, violence, HIV/AIDS infection and substance abuse?

The House of Ruth aims to raise awareness in the community about teen dating violence, focusing their efforts on Valentine’s Day.  They asked people to wear t-shirts on February 14^th that said “1 in 3” printed large on the front.  This topic of teen dating violence is really crucial, and by wearing the “1 and 3” t-shirt—even after Valentine’s Day—you will show that you care.

If you are interested in getting more information, visit www.youlovemeyoulovemenot.com.

House of Ruth is a nonprofit domestic violence organization that serves Baltimore City as well as other communities throughout the nation. They have supported over 11,000 individuals annually who are in abusive relationships.