Skip Navigation LinksTeenDatingViolence

injury and violence prevention (ivp) Branch

Teen Dating Violence

Teen Dating Violence (TDV), also known as Adolescent Relationship Abuse (ARA), can be defined as violence and/or abuse among two adolescents, ages 10-24 in a current, past and/or potential romantic relationship, including physical, verbal, emotional, sexual, economic, technological, and stalking, where there is an imbalance of power and a pattern of coercion over time.

More than half of the victims of violence and abuse had their first experience in adolscence, which further increases negative health outcomes across the lifespan. Adolscents and adults are often unaware how regularly dating violence occurs. In a nationwide survey, 9.8 percent of high school students report being hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend in the 12 months prior to the survey.

For more information, please contact SACB at ivpb@cdph.ca.gov

Note:

  • The Safe and Active Communities Branch, sponsor of this directory, does not provide direct services for victims or perpetrators of violence. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
  • If you are being abused, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
  • If you are a teen being abused call the National Teen Dating Helpline at 1-866-331-9474
  • If you have been raped or experienced sexual violence, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673
  • Please try to use a safe computer that someone abusive does not have direct access to, or even remote (hacking) access to, such as a computer in a public library, at a trusted friend's house, or at an Internet Cafe.  Also, traditional "corded" phones are more private than cellular phones or cordless phones.ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹
Page Last Updated :