by Ali Kern

 

Did you know that roughly 1.5 million high school boys and girls in the U.S. admit to being intentionally hurt or physically harmed in the last year by someone they are romantically involved with? One in three young people admit to being in an abusive or unhealthy relationship. February is Teen Domestic Violence Awareness month and today (February 14) marks Teen Domestic Violence Awareness day.

Talking to teens can sometimes be a challenge if you are a parent or guardian. Here's what you can do:

• Believe her; take her seriously
• Be supportive and understanding 
• Never put his partner down
• Avoid telling her what to do
• Be familiar with local resources to refer him to
• Contact an advocate to help start the conversation

If you or someone you know needs help, loveisrespect.org is a website devoted to helping teens break the cycle of domestic violence in their relationships. You can text loveis to 22522 for a response from a peer advocate; or to talk to someone, call 1-866-331-9474.

 

Ali Kern, Child Specialist with Child Abuse Network, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker

(week of February 6 - 12, 2017)

We are SUPER excited to announce the current sponsors for the 2017 Superhero Challenge! Special thanks to the H.A. & Mary K. Chapman Charitable Trust and the George Kaiser Family Foundation and our sponsor levels:

Presenting: AAON & QuikTrip

Man of Steel: ONEOK Inc.

Caped Crusader: Cyntergy, Mazzio's, Tulsa Federal Credit Union

Ninja: Grant Thornton, LLP

Superkid: BKD, LLP, Craig & Mary Ann Cameron, John Brobston State Farm Insurance, David & Marnie Phelps, Jack & Judi Schanck, Stinnett & Associates

Media Sponsors: Tulsa's Channel 8, 106.1 The Twister, 97.5 KMOD, Oklahoma Sport & Fitness Magazine, GTR Newspapers, VALUES Magazine, Oklahoma Today Magazine and the Tulsa Voice.

We hope you will join us for this fun filled family day of super adventures!  

Register

Last week, the Teen Lutheran Women's Ministry League from Faith Lutheran Church in Owasso graciously made a wonderful donation to CAN. They collected stuffed animals, journals, pens, markers coloring books and crayons over the holidays and were very happy to share them with the children who visit CAN. Thank you SO much to these amazing young women!

Pictured from the group are: Emma Pasco, Reagan Will, Sarah Kenney, Katie Jenney and Callie Newbrough. The group's sponsors are Jo Wahlgren, Diedra Scott and Lisa Newbrough.

In honor of Teen Domestic Violence Month, the CAN staff wore orange today to help bring awareness to the issue. Pictured are: (back row) Jackie Hewitt, David Glanz, Lea King, Ali Kern and Leslie Foster. (front row) Brandi Moore, Dawn Barrick, Shelia Minor-Johnson, Michelle Brobston, Kate Davis and Leslie Wood.

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