Teens Have New Resource for Coping With Domestic Violence

More than half of Valley teens participating in regional focus groups report that they or someone they know have experienced domestic violence in the home or have been in a violent personal relationship. When asked where they are most likely to go for help, most said they look to friends or rely on themselves rather than turn to professionals.  And that means many aren’t getting the help they need.

As part of its annual launch of October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Regional Domestic Violence Council will host a press conference at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 28, 2006, at “Teen Central,” located on the 4th floor of the Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix. The press conference is designed to let teens know about a new safe, secure, and user-friendly Web site for accessing domestic violence resources: WebofFriends.org. 

“Our focus groups repeatedly found that teens experiencing relationship or domestic violence most often turn to their friends for support and information, and rarely seek professional help,” said MAG Regional Domestic Violence Chair Mary Manross, mayor of Scottsdale. “They did report feeling comfortable accessing information through the Internet, because they feel safe and anonymous online. That’s why we decided to launch WebofFriends.org, to provide teens a user-friendly site, to learn more about their options for dealing with domestic or relationship violence,” said Mayor Manross. “We want them to know they can log on to get help and get hope.”

To help launch the site, MAG will host a live Web chat from 6:00-10:00 p.m. the evening of the press conference, during which teens can anonymously ask questions related to domestic violence or building healthy dating relationships. Experienced volunteers will be on hand to respond to teens’ questions and point them to available resources or information.

In a national study of eighth and ninth graders, 25 percent indicated that they had been victims of dating violence, including eight percent who disclosed being sexually abused. The press conference will include comments from a teen volunteer who works with teens experiencing domestic or dating violence and an adult survivor who experienced abuse in her teens. Video opportunities of teens on computers will be available at the Teen Central site.

For more information about the press conference or the live Web chat, please contact Kelly Taft, MAG communications manager, 602-452-5020.

Download the Web Chat Flier in PDF: (English) (Spanish)