October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, has been a busy month for Start Strong sites across the country. Dating abuse and prevention has been top of mind for many policy makers throughout the nation, and they are taking concrete steps to ensure school policies are in place that keep students safe. Start Strong: Building Healthy Relationships has played a major role by providing a model for how teachers, school administrators and communities can begin addressing the importance of healthy relationships in the classroom.

In California, the Los Angeles United School District passed a new resolution based on the Start Strong model policy that will bring teen dating violence prevention education to middle and high school students, helping them to recognize the warning signs of dating abuse and get help if they find themselves or a classmate in an unhealthy relationship.

This victory for dating abuse prevention in Los Angeles came on the heels of a local tragedy – the fatal stabbing of 17 year old Cindi Santana by her ex-boyfriend. The passing of the resolution generated substantial visibility for Start Strong Los Angeles and Peace Over Violence including an article which appeared in the Los Angeles Times and led to a radio interview between radio and television personality Ryan Seacrest and Start Strong Program Manager Trina Greene.

In New York, the voice of Start Strong Bronx is also being heard. Staff was quoted in a New York Times article, supporting the addition of dating abuse as a type of sexual harassment to the city’s policy. Strong Strong representatives continued however, that there is still more work to be done on this issue to make more teachers and school professionals aware of the many resources available to youth victims of dating abuse.

To further drive home the message that prevention of domestic violence begins with teaching children about healthy relationships, Start Strong Bronx placed an opinion editorial piece in the Bronx Times Reporter urging parents to begin talking to their children about healthy relationships. “Don’t wait any longer,” said Start Strong Bronx Project Director Christina Alex, “Start the conversation today.”

For more information about how to start that vital conversation with your child, please visit www.startstrongparents.com which has tips for parents and caregivers about how to keep young people safe in their relationships.

Start Strong Los Angeles