In recognition of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, Linda Davies of the Domestic Violence Center of SCV joined SCV Sheriff’s Station officials on the latest “Santa Clarita Sheriff Talk” radio show on KHTS AM-1220, sponsored by All American Bail Bonds in Santa Clarita.

One in three teenagers in the United States will experience at least a one-time occurrence of domestic violence, whether it’s physical or emotional abuse, according to Davies.

“Domestic violence is a family issue; it’s not just an intimate partner issue,” she said. “What happens is that children see this growing up and they think that’s what love is. So– sad to say –we see it more come out in teens.”

While the COBRA team at the SCV Sheriff’s Station is responsible for investigating reports of dating abuse among teenagers and young adults, few reports tend to actually be filed, according to Lt Brenda Cambra of the Sheriff’s Station’s Detective Bureau.

“I tend to think that teens tell their friends about these things, and among their friends, they try to solve the problem themselves,” Cambra said. “I don’t believe that they realize how dangerous it can be.”

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Davies echoed this statement, noting that most teenagers probably won’t reach out to the Sheriff’s Station except in the case of extreme abuse.

“It’s really about your friends helping you when they hear it that it’s not okay, and being able to know that there are resources out there,” Davies said.

One big way the Domestic Violence Center of SCV is raising awareness about teen dating violence for both victims and friends of victims is by reaching local students at the high school level.

Two programs, called “In Touch with Teens” and “Healthy Connections,” teach teenagers about what it means to be in a healthy relationship and offer access to a relationship coach who experienced an abusive relationship during her teenage years.

“She’s out of that now and in a healthy relationship, and she can be someone they connect with,” Davies explained. “Kids don’t want to be thinking about the fact that they’re in a domestic violence situation– that sounds horrific –so we have to talk to people about, how do you have a healthy relationship? That’s what people don’t know.”

While the programs have led to a few calls to the Domestic Violence Center by teenagers, school counselors can also refer students to organization officials.

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“A teenager can get a restraining order without telling her parents at the age of 13– that’s very important,” Davies said. “They can come to us; we don’t have to report it.”

Organization officials partner with the school to ensure that the two students are not in the same classrooms, and essentially work to implement the same rules that would be in place at an elementary school if a child had a restraining order against one of his or her parents.

The Domestic Violence Center of SCV has also partnered with the Sheriff’s Station and city of Santa Clarita to create a program called “Stop the Silence, Stand Up Against Violence,” which offers quarterly “trainings” for participants.

Cambra noted that signs a teenager could be involved in an abusive relationship include sudden isolation from their friends and family, constant communication with their partner and injuries that don’t seem to have plausible explanations.

“That would be a red flag that something’s wrong,” Cambra said. “When you add them all together, that might be a sign.”

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