SPONSOR:	Rep. Barbieri & Rep. Hudson; on behalf of all Representatives & Sen. Blevins & Sen. Sorenson; on behalf of all Senators

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

145th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 23

DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, 2010, AS "DELAWARE'S TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH".

WHEREAS, there are approximately 120,000 adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 in the State of Delaware and it is estimated that an additional 10,000 children ages 0-19 will reside in the State by the year 2011, with the largest increase therein occurring among the teenage population; and

WHEREAS, approximately one in four adolescents report verbal, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse each year; and

WHEREAS, 61% of teens in a relationship say that a partner has made them feel bad or embarrassed about themselves; and

WHEREAS, 40% of teenage girls between 14 and 17 years of age reported being physically abused or sexually abused by a dating partner; and

WHEREAS, one in four teens in a relationship say they have been called names, harassed, or put down by their partner during cell phone conversations and in text messages; and

WHEREAS, nearly two-thirds of these teens were with someone who they said acted jealously and who regularly asked where and with whom they were; and

WHEREAS, almost one-third of girls who have been in a relationship said they’ve been pressured to have sex or to engage in sexual acts when they didn’t want to do so; and

WHEREAS, twenty-five percent of pregnant teens reported being physically abused by their boyfriends, and half of those pregnant teens said the battering began or intensified after their boyfriends learned of their pregnancy; and

WHEREAS, violent relationships in adolescence can have serious ramifications, causing victims to be at a higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior, unplanned pregnancy, suicide, and adult re-victimization; and

WHEREAS, a study of adolescents and college students revealed that date rape accounted for 67% of sexual assaults; and

WHEREAS, eighty-one percent of parents surveyed either believed dating violence is not a problem or admitted they did not know it is a problem; and

WHEREAS, the establishment of the State of Delaware’s Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention month will benefit schools, communities, and families regardless of socio-economic status, race, or gender.

NOW THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 145th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the month of February, 2010, is designated as Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention month in the State of Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the people of the State of Delaware call on middle and high schools, law enforcement, local and State officials, and interested groups to observe the month with appropriate activities that promote awareness and prevention of the crime of teen dating violence in our communities.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, upon its adoption, suitably prepared copies of this Resolution be forwarded to Child, Inc., the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, Middletown High School, Delcastle Technical High School, Ferris School for Boys, Cape Henlopen High School, and the Teen Dating Violence Subcommittee of the Domestic Violence Task Force and the Victims Rights Task Force