Bringing Awareness
"When awareness blossoms, petals of change unfold" - John Mark Green
awareness - /əˈwernəs/
noun
- knowledge or perception of a situation or fact.
Change starts with awareness. Help starts with awareness. Support starts with awareness. Why not use creativity and talent to help raise awareness?
I am so excited to be teaming up with DeShawn Wooding for these awareness shoots monthly (sometimes a couple of times a month). DeShawn is a local artist and crafter in Covington, VA. You can find her at https://www.facebook.com/love.deecreations/
and
https://lovedeecustomcreations.square.site
If you have an idea for an awareness shoot or are a business and would like to collaborate with information and donation links, please email photos@erinhiserphotography.com with the subject titled "Awareness".
L O V E I S R E S P E C T
*Possible Trigger Warning*
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. TDV affects more than the victim. It affects family and friends also.
Teen Dating Violence includes 4 types of behavior:
--> Physical Violence is when a person hurts or tries to hurt a partner by hitting, kicking, or using another type of physical force.
--> Sexual Violence is forcing or attempting to force a partner to take part in a sex act, sexual touching, or a non-physical sexual event (sexting) when the partner does not or cannot consent.
--> Psychological Aggression is the use of verbal and non-verbal communication with the intent to harm another person mentally or emotionally to exert control.
--> Stalking is a pattern of repeated and unwanted attention or contact by a partner that causes fear and concern of one's safety
Teens often think some behaviors, like teasing and name-calling, are a "normal" part of a relationship - but these behaviors can become abusive and develop into more serious forms of violence.
Many teens do not report unhealthy behaviors because they are afraid to tell family and friends.
According to the CDC's Risk Behavior Survey and the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey:
~ Nearly 1 in 11 female and approximately 1 in 15 male high school students report having experienced physical dating violence in 2019.
~ About 1 in 9 female and 1 in 36 male high school students report having sexual dating violence in 2019.
~ 26% of women and 15% of men who were victims of TDV in their lifetime first experienced these forms of violence before age 18.
~ The burden of TDV is not shared equally across all groups - sexual minority groups are disproportionately affected by all forms of violence and some racial/ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by many forms of violence.
Youth who experience TDV are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors - using alcohol, tobacco, and drugs - experience symptoms of depression and anxiety, and exhibit anti-social behaviors like lying, theft, and bullying.
During pre-teen and teen years, it is critical for adolescents to begin learning appropriate skills to create and maintain healthy relationships. These skills include learning to manage feelings and how to communicate feelings in a healthy way.
You are not alone. There is help.
Safehome Systems, Inc. provides advocacy and support services to survivors of domestic, dating and sexual violence. We provide services to women, children and men that are experiencing this kind of violence. These services include a 24-hour crisis hotline; emergency shelter; individual and group counseling; legal advocacy; public awareness and education presentations.
Our vision is that Safehome Systems, Inc. will be the primary resource center for education, prevention and refuge for domestic violence, dating violence and sexual abuse in the Alleghany Highlands region. The grassroots effort started with the citizens of Alleghany County, and 30 years later, that support continues. Our services are offered to Alleghany, Bath and Highland Counties as well as the City of Covington and towns of Iron Gate and Clifton Forge.
Safehome: 540-965-3237
Love is respect : 1-800-331-9474 | Text LOVEIS to 22522 | www.loveisrespect.org and select CHAT NOW.
Information and Statistics provided by Safehome Systems, Inc.
Artwork provided by Love.dee Creations
Models LeAnn Craft and daughter
*Disclaimer: Subjects in the images are not victims of TDV.
