H.E.A.R.T.
H.E.A.R.T. - The Department's Healthy Teen Relationship Initiative, equips Florida’s teenagers, schools, and communities with resources to help students develop healthy relationship skills before they begin dating. This collaborative initiative coincides with February’s Healthy Teen Relationship Month, which focuses on advocacy and education to stop dating abuse before it starts.
What is Teen Dating Violence?
Teen dating violence (TDV) affects millions of young people in the United States. TDV is a pattern of emotional, verbal, sexual, or physical abuse used by one person in a current or past dating relationship to exert power and control over another when one or both partners is a teenager. Many teens do not report TDV out of fear, resulting in victims experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression that may lead to unhealthy behaviors.
Three Important Roles
- The Abuser - A person who physically, sexually, verbally, or emotionally hurts a dating partner.
- The Victim - A person who is hurt physically, sexually, verbally, or emotionally by a dating partner.
- The Bystander - A person who is aware that someone is being abused in a dating relationship.
Know the Signs and Steps
HEAR what the student, family or friend is saying without interrupting.
EMPATHIZE with the person to develop deep levels of rapport and trust.
ASSESS the situation and reassure the person that you will be there for them if they need you.
RESPECT their privacy and personal space and expect the person to be confused about their feelings and about what to do.
TALK about available resources and steps the person can take.
EMPATHIZE with the person to develop deep levels of rapport and trust.
ASSESS the situation and reassure the person that you will be there for them if they need you.
RESPECT their privacy and personal space and expect the person to be confused about their feelings and about what to do.
TALK about available resources and steps the person can take.
Preventing Teen Dating Violence
Each February, young adults and their loved ones nationwide raise awareness about teen dating violence through Healthy Teen Relationship Month.
It all starts with a conversation. Have a Heart-to-Heart…
It all starts with a conversation. Have a Heart-to-Heart…
Hotlines
- Florida Abuse Hotline
Phone: 1-800-962-2873
TDD: 1-800-453-5145 - Florida Domestic Violence Hotline
Phone: 1-800-500-1119
TTY Hotline: 1-800-621-4202
Non-emergency Legal Hotline: 1-800-500-1119 - prompt 3
