title: Teen dating abuse: recognition and interventions.
abstract: Teen dating abuse, also known as teen dating violence, is a significant public health issue. Adolescents with a history of dating abuse may struggle academically and experience increased risk for serious injury or even death. They may engage in risky sexual behavior, substance abuse, and unhealthy dieting and exhibit suicidal behaviors. School nurses may be the first adults that teens confide in when experiencing dating abuse and may lack the knowledge and skills to intervene with teens involved in unhealthy dating relationships. Beginning in 2008, Dell Children s Medical Center in Austin, Texas, partnered with SafePlace (a local nonprofit that serves survivors of sexual and domestic violence) to address dating abuse. This collaboration is part of Start Strong Austin, one of 11 communities nationwide participating in the Start Strong: Building Healthy Teen Relationships Initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Start Strong model employs innovative strategies in education, community engagement, policy change, and social marketing to prevent dating abuse before it starts.
authors.affiliation: Dell Children's Medical Center, Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Sally Ann
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Barri
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rosenbluth
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cotton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012573:School Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods*; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D013192:Staff Development