Photo courtesy St. Mary’s County Public Information Office
Leonardtown, MD – The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County joined members of the St. Mary’s County Commission for Women, St. Mary’s County Public Schools staff and employees at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital to raise awareness about dating violence by declaring the week of April 3-9, 2016 as St. Mary’s County Respect Week..
Statistics indicate one in three adolescent girls in the United States is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure which far exceeds victimization rates for other types of violence affecting youth.
“Providing young people, their families and the school system with education about healthy relationships and relationship skills and by changing attitudes that support violence, we recognize dating violence can be prevented,” said Commissioner Michael Hewitt (2nd District).
The commissioners believe St. Mary’s County Respect Week will bring greater awareness of dating violence to young people, their families, schools and communities without regard to socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation or ethnicity.