The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) the FEAR project would like to bring to your attention February 4th – 8th, 2008 is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention week. In partnership with the Sammamish Parenting Network we invite you to a two part series offering educational session for adults who care about teens and their dating relationships.

National statistics in 2006 include: 

·        81% of parents surveyed either believe dating violence is not an issue or admit they do not know if it is an issue.

·         1 in 2 teens in a dating relationship have compromised their beliefs to please their partner;

·         Violent  relationships in adolescence can have serious ramifications for victims who are at higher risk of substance  abuse, eating  disorders, risky sexual behavior, suicide  and adult revictimization.

 Our mission at the FEAR Project is to reduce the prevalence of sexual violence and its affects in communities through the use of personal narrative and multimedia. 

Guest speakers include: 

Scott Leist: King County Special Assault Prosecutor believes the criminal justice system almost never includes discussions of prevention or education to intercept victimization. Scott shares knowledge learned from victims and juries about thoughts and beliefs on sex and provides tools to parents to decrease youth victimization. 

Alison Cathro: RN, SANE-A a Forensic nurse with Haborview’s Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress provides patient care for victims of sexual violence. Alison routinely speaks to students in high schools about healthy relationships and the legal definition of consent. After listening to many reports of dating sexual violence, Alison’s goal is to assist parents and teens with opening a dialogue about this very sensitive and difficult subject matter.

Rebecca Haas: Victim turned Survivor will share her story to help parents fully understand her rape as an adolescent had lifelong effects for her. Rebecca believes her outcome would have been different if only her parents or guidance counselor or friends listened to her following a disclosure 20 years ago, and believed her. She will also discuss in person the signs that parents can be watchful of for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

Please join us:

Monday February 25th, 2008 11:30 am - 1:30 pm; Rebecca Haas & Alison Cathro 

Monday, March 24th, 2008 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm; Scott Leist & Alison Cathro

Sahalee Fire Station #82

1851 228th Ave NE

Sammamish, WA 98074  

With thanks, this presentation is made possible by the ‘Learning to Listen’ grant awarded by the Open Society Institute, under the Soros Foundation 2007.  

For more information please contact:alison@fearproject.org