Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month: Empowering the Next Generation
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (#TDVAM)—a time to levate prevention, education, and the collective responsibility we share to keep young people safe. This year, YWCA North Central Indiana is marking the month with powerful momentum: a transformative investment that will significantly support violence prevention education for youth in South Bend schools.
A Transformational Investment in Our Young People
On November 21, 2025, YWCA North Central Indiana announced a leadership gift from the Valinhos Foundation to support a groundbreaking two-year violence prevention initiative within the South Bend Community School System.
This investment will fuel the YWCA’s Take Charge program, bringing evidence-based violence prevention education directly into classrooms across South Bend. With this funding, a dedicated YWCA advocate works consistently with students—reaching young people earlier, more frequently, and with greater impact than ever before.
The goal is clear: stop violence before it starts.
Why Evidence-based, Community-Driven Education Matters
This initiative is grounded in research and collaboration. YWCA North Central Indiana partnered with University of Notre Dame doctors Laura Miller-Graff and Jessica Carney, recognized experts in child development, family resilience, and violence prevention.
Their guidance ensured the selected curriculum is both evidence-based and developmentally appropriate—designed not only to teach critical skills but to engage students in meaningful, lasting ways.
“This is a game-changing moment for our community,” said Amy Hill, CEO of YWCA North Central Indiana. “The Valinhos Foundation’s support demonstrates a deep commitment to protecting our children and ensuring that every young person in South Bend has the knowledge and skills to create safe futures for themselves and others. This partnership gives us the power to stop violence before it starts.”
Julie Veldman Harris, Executive Director of the Valinhos Foundation, echoed that commitment: “When we invest in youth, we invest in the future of our entire region. We are proud to partner with YWCA North Central Indiana on innovative work that will make a lasting difference.”
Teen dating violence affects millions of young people nationwide. It can include physical, emotional, verbal, sexual, or digital abuse—often beginning with subtle behaviors like jealousy, manipulation, isolation, or pressure to share passwords and locations.
Because teens are still learning what relationships should look like, unhealthy behaviors are often normalized or misunderstood. That’s why proactive, age-appropriate education is essential.
Through this initiative, students will gain practical tools to:
Build healthy, respectful relationships
Understand consent and personal boundaries
Resolve conflict peacefully
Recognize early warning signs of dating and interpersonal violence
Support peers who may be experiencing abuse
These are not just lessons for adolescence—they are lifelong skills that help break cycles of violence for future generations.
Strengthening a Legacy of Service
For more than a century, YWCA North Central Indiana has provided lifesaving domestic violence services, emergency shelter, advocacy, and prevention education throughout the region. Each year, the organization supports thousands of individuals and families—empowering women, strengthening communities, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
The Valinhos Foundation, a private family foundation dedicated to improving mental health and overall well-being for youth and families (up to age 24), is committed to transforming systems through innovation, evidence-based practices, and collaboration.
Together, these organizations are building something powerful: safer schools, healthier relationships, and stronger futures.
Taking Charge of the Future
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month reminds us that prevention is possible—and that education is one of the most powerful tools we have.
Thanks to the visionary investment of the Valinhos Foundation, thousands of students in South Bend have consistent access to high-quality violence prevention education through the Take Charge program.
Because when we equip young people with knowledge, confidence, and support, we don’t just respond to violence—we prevent it.
