February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
Here at YWCA Northeast Indiana, we are strong believers in the powerful role that awareness and education play in prevention. This is why we urge you to take a proactive stance during the month of February, and to engage your students and educate them about what teen dating violence looks like and the dangers associated with it.
Check out our 2026 TDVAM Toolkit
In Indiana and Allen County, sexual violence intersects with dating violence and is a pressing concern for many young people, especially young women. The Women’s Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne completed a study in 2020 that conducted three focus groups with young women and girls aged 12–24 to conduct research for the Young Women and Girls Report:
- “We learned to ‘just say no and they will stop,’ but that is not at all true.”
- “I was pressured into having sex as a freshman. I felt powerless. I felt frozen. When I finally told my parents, my mom made it seem like it was my fault.”
- 15% felt pressured to have sex
In response to the question, “What keeps you up at night?” many of the young women and girls surveyed indicated safety concerns:
- Fear of sexual assault
- Being victimized by men/boys
- Male gaze and attention
- Feeling shame over male behavior towards themselves
Physical safety, including not feeling safe at home, was identified in multiple areas of the study by the young women and girls. One in 10 Indiana students report being physically harmed by a romantic partner, and 10% of Indiana teens indicated being forced to have sex against their will on a survey (Domestic Violence Network 2020). Furthermore, Indiana ranks fourth highest in the nation for rape of high school girls (ICESAHT 2019) and is the third highest out of thirty states with the highest percentage of high school students reporting experiencing sexual dating violence over a twelve month period (Domestic Violence Network 2022). Out of Indiana women who have experienced a completed rape, 50% were raped before the age of 18 (National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, state reports 2010-2022).
The 2023 Indiana Youth Institute KidsCount Databook reports similar statistics, and includes that following additional pieces of research:
- In 2021, about 27% of high school students in Indiana reported that someone they were dating tried to control them or emotionally hurt them.
- 8% of students reported experiencing sexual dating violence
- 9% of students reported experiencing physical dating violence
Sources:
Women’s Fund Young Women & Girls Report Allen County
Our Research | Women’s Fund of Greater Fort Wayne
ICESAHT 2019: Op-ed: Sexual assault in Indiana is out of control. It’s time to act.
Youth Education Programs
Our Community Educators present to youth in elementary, middle, and high schools on various topics including healthy relationships and bullying.
In 2025, we presented to 3,076 youth and of participants who completed surveys 97% reported an increase in knowledge.
Wear Orange for Love
Wear orange on Fridays in February to raise awareness of teen dating violence. Post a photo of you wearing orange on social media and finish the sentence, “I wear orange because…” Don’t forget to tag us and use the hashtags #Orange4Love, #TDVAM, #EndDatingViolence, and #HealthyLove.
Dating Trends and Community Attitudes Survey
As part of our commitment to prevention and education, we are inviting the teens and young adults to participate in this Dating Trends and Community Attitudes survey.
Our hope with this survey is to help us better understand what young people in our community know, believe, and experience when it comes to dating violence and healthy relationships.
TDVAM Weekly Topics
YWCA Northeast Indiana invites you to start discussions surrounding our weekly topics! Join us as we share ideas and resources to promote healthy relationships amongst teens. Learn more below and find additional action items in our 2026 toolkit.
Week 1 - Focus on Safety (Feb 1-7)
Now is the time to shine a spotlight on resources, tools, and people our youth can turn to for help. A safety plan is a personalized, practical plan that can help you avoid dangerous situations and know the best way to react when you’re in danger. If you’re experiencing abuse or are in an unhealthy relationship, creating a safety plan can be very helpful.
Action Ideas:
1. Spotlight resources in your area
2. Use the link below to print a safety plan
3. Make a poster to share safe dating and break-up tips
Week 2 - Love is Respect (Feb 8-14)
During Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, we’re reminding teens that healthy relationships are built on respect, trust, and equality—because everyone deserves a love that lifts them up, not breaks them down. Abuse is more than physical. Start conversations about neglect, emotional, psychological, spiritual, cultural, verbal, and financial abuse.
Action Idea:
1. Check out the resource below from Love Is Respect on Dating Basics.
Week 3 - Love Languages (Feb 15-21)
How someone shows love can look different, but no “love language” should ever be used to pressure, control, or excuse harmful behavior. During Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, we’re reminding teens that healthy relationships honor boundaries, communicate openly, and always make space for safety and consent.
Action Ideas:
1. Take the Love Languages Quiz below to find out how you like to show & receive love.
2. Reflect or journal: How do my Love Languages show up in my relationships (friendships, family, or dating).
Week 4 - Speak Out (Feb 22-28)
1 in 3 teens in the US have experienced some type of abuse in their relationships with a significant other. On this day, we encourage youth to speak up about who they are! Create healthy boundaries and speak up about what you deserve and expect in your relationships. Your voice is powerful!
Action Ideas:
1. Discuss what you deserve and expect in relationships.
2. Use social media to share why speaking up is important or how someone can help a friend in need.
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month:
Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships: