We Speak Up. We Speak Out. We Speak Now.
Crossroad Women and Family Services partners with Break the Cycle for the purposes of making a difference in the lives of Columbus County youth and their families through innovative domestic violence intervention and prevention services.
Through our seminar presentations we educate Columbus County youth ages 12 to 24 about the dangers of dating abuse which oftentimes lead to adult victimization. We believe early intervention and prevention is the key to saving lives and we are empowering young people to break the cycle before it starts. We discuss how violence impacts our communities and what we can do to stop it.
Not only do we offer dating and domestic violence services focused on law-based prevention and intervention. We also help youth build their self-esteem and self-worth, create boundaries, develop good decision making skills, discover their purpose and demonstrate love for self and others. Our educational programs are offered througout schools, community-based organizations, youth groups, after-school programs, churches, colleges, alternative schools and foster homes.
Q. What is Break the Cycle?
A:Founded in LA in 1996 Break the Cycle is a non-profit organization whose mission is to engage, educate and empower youth to build lives and communities free from domestic and dating violence.
Q. What does Break the Cycle do?
A:Engage- Educate- Empower: Break the Cycle takes action again domestic violence before it starts by reaching young people as early as possible, as they are forming their first relationship through free comprehensive programs that engage, educate and empower youth.
Crossroad Women and Family Services partners with Break the Cycle to promote innovative, interactive prevention progrmas that teaches youth about domestic and dating abuse, healthy relationships and their legal rights and responsibilities. We increase awareness through public education campaigns and community outreach.
We also train teachers, attorneys, social workers, doctors, law enforcement officers and others to recognize unique challenges young victims face and how to intervene with sensitivity, confidence and appropriate referrals. Through our Break the Cycle Ending Violence DVD project, Break the Cycle is expanding classroom-based program into a classroom friendly learning tool and curriculum with which teachers and other service providers can reach thousand more young people nationwide.
Q. Why does Break the Cycle focus on Teens?
A: Break the Cycle tries to reach teens as they form their first relationships- when patterns of abuse can start. In addition to typical barriers adult domestic violence victims face, teen experience unique challenges. Bolded are just some of the problems teens face in abusive relationships.
Teens forming their first relationship do not always know what a positive, healthy relationship look like. They are unaware of their legal rights and might not trust police and adults around them. Since they spend a lot of time with friends, there is added pressure to follow the crowd: if everyone is else dating, I should be too. If a teen is being abused by their boyfriend it can be very difficult to avoid that partner becasue they probably attend thesame school or live in the same neighborhood. Also many adults do not take teen relationships seriously, make getting help even more difficult for teens. Break the Cycle is a trusted resource teens can turn to for advice and help no matter what the situation.
Q. Are there really teen victims of domestic violence?
Sadly, as many as 1 in 3 teens experience abuse in a relationship (Teen Research Unlimited, February 2005). 43% of the students who have participated in our education program report hearing about, seeing or experiencing domestic violence, either personally or among friends or family. Even if you haven't heard about it, there's a chance this very serious issue is affecting someone you know or care about.
Q. How does domestic violence affect teenage girls?
A: Teenage girls who have witnessed violence are two to three times more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors, i.e. smoking, substance abuse, eating disorders and unsafe sex. Teenage girls who ahve experienced violence first hand were also more likely to take these health risks (Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, November 2001).
Teenage girls who have witnessed violence are two to four times more likely than those with no exposure to violence to have sex at an early age, have intercourse with strangers, have multilple sex partners or test positive for a sexually transmitted disease. (Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, November 2001)
Q. What should I do if I think someone I know is being abused?
.A: The most important thing is to remain supportive and understand how difficult the situation is, and encourage that person to seek help. Call Break the Cycle at 888-998-Teen if you think we can help. We provide information and referrals to organizations that serve your local are or age group.