Asking Your Teen Abou elationshin Violence (NAPSA)—It may seem like “puppy love,” but teen relationships can be very intense. They can alsobeviolent. A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that one in five high school girls has been abused by a dating partner. Moreover, a study commis- sioned by the Empower Program A PARENT'S GUIDE TO TEEN DATING VIOLENCE: QUESTIONS TO START THE CONVERSATION (an organization which teaches young people about youth violence prevention) and sponsored by Liz Claiborne Ine. found that 81 percent of parents don’t acknowledge teen dating violence as an issue. And the majority (54 percent) share that they have not spoken to their child about dating violence. The good newsfor parents is that Liz Claiborne Inc. has ereated a new, free handbooktitled “A Parent’s Guide to Teen Dating Violence: 10 Questions to Start the Conversation.” The handbook provides parents and guardians of teenagers with conversation starters and tools to help open a dialogue about this tough issue. Included in the handbook are statistics on dating violence and a clear definition of relationship abuse. Actual quotes from both parents and teens are inter- spersed throughout the copy. Liz Claiborne Inc. enlisted the counsel of experts to write the handbook, including Rosalind Wiseman, co-founder EmpowerProgram. of the Wiseman offers these tips to remember when talking to your teen: * Take your child out to a coffee shop or for a drive, away from siblings and distractions for both of you. Set up a comfortable environment andlisten respectfully. * Remember to support your child and confirm that you are a uz claiborne @ A few well-chosen words on the subject of dating and violence mayhelp protect a teen. good resource and a non-judgmental listener. * Give your teen realistic strategies to confront the problem effectively. Share your own experi- ences, especially those where you made mistakes and learned from them. * Keep in mind that sometimes your teen just wants someone who will listen, not someone to jump in and solve all of their problems for them. * Pay attention—anytime your teenager wants to talk with you, drop everything andlisten. * Watch for signs that they may want to talk, such as if your son or daughter hangs around where you are but doesn’t necessarily say anything. To learn more about teen dating violence and how to start a conversation, visit www.lizclaiborne. com/loveisnotabuse, where you may also download a copy of the handbook.
