This year marked the eighth annual RespectFEST, an event that raises awareness about teen dating violence within Montgomery County.
The event is geared towards local “6th to 12th graders, parents, and youth-serving providers,” and consists of various activities designed to increase knowledge regarding the types and signs of abuse, and the resources available to aid victims.
This year, a virtual portion of the program ran from Mar. 21 to Mar. 26. Online workshops and activities were available remotely, in both English and Spanish. The RespectFEST culminated in an in-person event on Mar. 27 at the Wheaton Community Recreation Center.
During this event, students learned about teen dating violence from speakers and performances. They also had the opportunity to engage in activities such as yoga and self-defense classes. A community resource fair at the event spread information about different organizations available to help those experiencing teen dating violence.
As part of RespectFEST, awards were given to the winners of the annual Choose Respect Video Contest, in which middle and high school students create original public service announcements. Their videos address issues of abuse and consent, bystander intervention, or examples of a healthy relationship.
The RespectFEST is part of a larger Choose Respect Montgomery initiative, whose mission is to “promote respect in dating relationships and to raise community awareness about the prevalence of teen dating violence.”
This initiative is led by the Montgomery County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, which was established in 2006 to “reduc[e] the incidence of domestic violence and creat[e] a safe community for families to live free of abuse.”
With teen dating violence impacting youth both in Montgomery County and across the nation, it is vital for students to have an opportunity to learn about what it is and how to stop it. “The more we talk about it, the more people are going to be willing to come forward and share their experiences and not feel ashamed or embarrassed or feel like something’s wrong with them,” Chair of the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council Debbie Feinstein said in an article from WDVM.
The Governor’s Family Violence Council and the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth and Victim Services define teen dating violence as “physical, sexual, psychological, or emotional violence within a dating relationship, including stalking,” as well as “any pattern of behavior that a person may use to gain and maintain power over their partner,” including financial and digital abuse.
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, 1 in 10 teens reported being physically harmed by a partner in the last year. Additionally, 1 in 10 teens reported experiencing sexual violence committed by a partner in the last year.
Nationally, a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2019 found that 1 in 12 teens experienced physical dating violence in the 12 months before the survey, while 1 in 12 teens experienced sexual dating violence.
In addition to the RespectFEST, students in Montgomery County have the opportunity to learn about dating violence through MCPS health classes. Students learn about the “components of health relationships” during the Family Life and Human Sexuality portion of the Grade 7 Health curriculum.
Additionally, the MCPS Secondary Comprehensive Health Education Curriculum Framework lists “Dating Violence” as a key topic in the “Safety and Injury Prevention” portion of the Grade 10 curriculum.
As dating violence and intimate partner violence continue to be prevalent national and local issues, events such as the Choose Respect Montgomery RespectFEST are an important step in educating students and spreading awareness.
Those experiencing dating violence are encouraged to seek help using the free resources available on the Choose Respect Montgomery website.
Written by Chloe Goldberg of Richard Montgomery High School
Photo courtesy of the Montgomery County website