What is Domestic Violence?

Teen Dating Violence

What Can Schools Do?

Facts:

Teen dating violence (TDV) is an integral part of school violence. The New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence recommends that all schools develop a teen dating violence policy to address potential dangers, provide necessary training, and establish an advisory team from the community. Schools are also encouraged to provide various groups for students and develop stay away contracts and school safety plans.

School Policy

A formal policy on teen dating violence can help schools to:

• Build victim safety and offender accountability into the schools response.
• Provide a consistent school response to TDV.
• Establish clear roles and responsibilities for school staff.
• Provide help to victims.
• Address the issue in coordination with other community agencies.

The school's TDV policy should clearly state that dating violence will not be tolerated and provide specific direction for responding to alleged incidents. Some suggestions include:

• Definitions - Since what we mean when we use a certain word or phrase can vary greatly, it is important to define the terms used in the policy. Examples of terms that need to be defined are "teen dating violence," "perpetrators," and "victims."
• Rationale - All policies should include a statement of why the policy exists. This may include stating that addressing TDV is a school priority and citing laws and regulations that support the policy.
• Training - The policy should clearly state what training is required of personnel, how much training is required, when it will be conducted and by whom. Training should be required on an on-going basis of teachers, staff and administrators, so that all are prepared to address the issue in a coordinated matter.
• Monitoring - The policy should include mechanisms for monitoring compliance.
• Evaluation - The policy should state how, why and by whom the policy will be evaluated. This should be an on-going process and should include the input of students, school staff, and domestic violence advocates.

View a Sample Teen Dating Violence Model Policy

Training

Both school personnel and students should receive training on:

• The school's formal TDV policy.
• The dynamics of TDV and healthy relationships.
• The laws pertaining to interpersonal violence.
• School and community resources.

In addition to receiving training on these topics:

• Staff members should also be trained on their individual responsibilities and roles in supporting school policy.
• Parents and the community at large should receive information on where they can go for help if their child is a victim, and what they can do to address the issue of TDV.
  
  

Community Coordination

To create a safe school climate, it is best to develop an advisory team of local experts from community organizations to assist in your efforts and familiarize you with the roles, responsibilities and constraints of their agencies. The agencies and systems that might be included, and what they can offer, are listed below.

• Domestic Violence Service Provider

  • Help to develop policy
  • Provide training to school staff, students, parents and the community or provide information on where training may be obtained.
  • Offer appropriate referrals for victims.
  • Suggest appropriate ways to deal with offenders.

• Police Department

  • Familiarize the team with law enforcement's policy pertaining to TDV
  • Take part in training staff, students, parents and the community.

• District Attorney's Office

  • Familiarize the team with orders of protection and provisions pertaining to schools.
  • Help integrate state laws into the school's TDV policy.
  • Explain the process of prosecuting offenders in a criminal court.
  • Provide information to victims throughout the criminal court process.

• County Attorney

  • Help integrate state laws into the school's TDV policy.
  • Provide information regarding Persons in Need of Supervision (PINS).

• Family Court Clerk

  • Explain the Family Court process and who is eligible to use Family Court.
  • Review how petitions are prepared.
  • Explain the linkage between Family Court and criminal court.

• Probation

  • Explain probation supervision of offenders in juvenile justice programs.
  • Provide details regarding PINS.
  • Explain probation's role in pretrial supervision of the offender.

• Mental Health Services

  • Explain services available in the community.
  • Detail what victims can expect if referred.

• Child Protective and Social Services Staff

  • Provide information on services available to victims of child abuse or domestic violence.

• Clergy

  • Educate religious youth groups on TDV and what the school system is doing to provide help.
  • Provide information on school efforts in bulletins and printed materials.

• Media

  • Publicize the school's efforts to stop TDV.
  • Educate the community on the dynamics of TDV.

• Civic Groups

  • Educate membership on TDV
  • Educate the community about the school's efforts to stop TDV.

Groups

• Victim Support Group - Offering a gender specific support group can create awareness and safety for victims of TDV. The group can help victims to:
  • Understand that they are not alone.
  • Understand that they are not responsible for the abuse.
  • Learn about dominance and violence.
  • Identify safety strategies.
  • Learn about the dynamics of healthy relationships.
• Classes for Offenders - Schools can establish or work with other community agencies to create classes for perpetrators. In designing such a class, it is crucial to seek the guidance of the local licensed domestic violence service provider on matters of content, format, rules, and leadership. Attendance should be mandated if at all possible. If attendance is mandated, there must be consequences for those who fail to attend or comply with any requirements. These might include:
  • Suspension or expulsion from school.
  • Notification of violent incident given to law enforcement agency.
  • Initiation of PINS petition by the school.
• Groups for "At Risk" Students - Many schools already have groups for "at risk" students. These groups can provide an opportunity to discuss topics related to TDV, including:
  • Dominance, oppression and violence.
  • Gender equality.
  • Healthy relationships.

Stay Away Contracts & School Safety Plans

The Offender

A school initiated stay away contract regulating the perpetrator's schedule and routes and imposing other restrictions can either stand on its own or supplement a court order of protection. Input from the victim should be considered in developing the contract. However, conditions or responsibilities should never be placed on the victim; doing so only serves to revictimize her/him. Elements of a stay-away contract might include:

• Student name, bus number, homeroom number.
• Statement of why the contract is being instituted.
• Schedule changes.
• Routes perpetrator is allowed to use between classes.
• Restrictions from extracurricular activities.
• School arrival and departure arrangements: time, entrance/exit perpetrator must use, bus or parking restrictions.
• Locker - possible change of location.
• Date initiated.
• Expiration date (if applicable).
• Consequences for violation of contract, or memorandum of agreement.

The contract should be signed by the perpetrating student, his/her parent or guardian and the school administrator.

The Victim

It is important to notify the victim in writing of the arrangements the school has made with the offender. The notification should be signed by the victimized student and the school administrator, and might include information about:

• Changes in the offender's schedule.
• Routes offender will be using between classes.
• Information regarding offender's school arrival and departure.
• Offender's locker location.
• Offender's extracurricular activities (if allowed).
• Process for reporting violations.

It is also important to identify a support network for the victim that includes staff and peers.