Teens and Parents Invited to Dating Conference Scheduled for April 9

Montgomery County’s Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (DVCC) will host the second annual Choose Respect Montgomery teen dating conference.

From a County Press Release: "According to a recent study, one in five high school girls has been physically or sexually abused by a dating partner. Nearly half of teens involved in dating relationships report being controlled, threatened and coerced to do things they did not want to do."

The conference will feature workshops for teens, including sessions on healthy teen dating behaviors, recognizing abuse in dating relationships and misuse of technology. The keynote speaker will be Bill Mitchell, president of the Kristen Mitchell Foundation, an organization that supports educational efforts that raise awareness of unhealthy dating relationships. The award-winning youth performance arts organization, City at Peace, will open the conference. The event will conclude with the recognition of the winners of the Choose Respect Montgomery public service announcement contest.

The conference is co-sponsored by the DVCC, Montgomery College and other County agencies and community organizations. Sessions for teens and parents will be held in English and Spanish.