One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence. See what the Domestic Violence Center of SCV is doing to combat teen dating violence.

This promises to be an amazing evening of three women sharing their deepest secrets of pain, strife and survival through drama, film and song.

A dramatic perfomance by Tamee Seidling. A film written and directed by Lorena Gordon. A musical performance by Katy Moffatt.

A panel of trained experts will also be available for questions or comments following the performances.

You can visit our Facebook event page, Awareness Through the Arts for additional details. #awarenessthroughthearts

Healthy Connections for Teens

We’ve started a new youth program called Healthy Connections where we are teaching teens how to be in healthy, violence free relationships. We have advocates go out to the local high schools in the Santa Clarita Valley once a week and work with a group of high school students. Specific health class students are participating in an eleven unit evidence-based curriculum which promotes healthy relationships through education and advocacy. Last week’s unit covered positive and negative power and control in relationships. We want to continue to educate youth so we can break the cycle of victims and maintain healthy relationships throughout their life. #healthyconnections #healthyrelationships

Our Victims Advocate Program (VAP) is underway! We have four trained advocates who go on ride alongs with the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s department on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for four to six hours each evening. Our DVC advocates talk to the Sheriff’s about our agency and what we can do and how we can help victims in a domestic violence situation. If our advocate happens to be on a ride along when they get a call for domestic disturbance, our advocate is right there to talk to the victim, help answer any questions, and get them resources they may need. If our advocates are not with the Sheriff’s when they get a call, the Sheriff can contact our agency and get the victim in touch with one of our on-call advocates so we can help them get what they need. We are so very excited to be partnering with the SCV Sheriff’s department to work closely with them and help prevent further calls of domestic disturbances. For more information on our work with the Sheriff’s station you can visit the D.I.V.E.R.T website. #VAP

A young woman named Christian in our community has shared her story of growing up in a household of domestic violence and overcoming those obstacles. And now we would like to share her story with you. Christian and her mother were struggling financially after they left their abuser and some nights didn’t know if they would be able to put food on the table. Now they are thriving and want to give back to others that may be in the same situation. Christian has decided to raise $10,000 and donate this to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence so that others who are in financial need can get the help they need and get back on their feet in a safe and healthy environment. So they won’t be afraid to leave the abusive situation they are in. So they can transform from a victim to a survivor. Please take a moment to read her story and if you can, make a donation to this worthy cause. https://www.gofundme.com/ncadv18

Christian will also be speaking along side our Executive Director, Linda Davies, at several community events this month, including for the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita, If You Can Dream It, You Can Be It conference to be held at College of the Canyons and on a radio spot for our local radio station KHTS.