www.janefonda.com



I was at The Jane Fonda Center (at the Emory Univ School of Medicine)Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
According to the 2007 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, during the
12 months prior to the survey, nearly one out of ten high school
students nationwide had been hit, slapped, or physically hurt on
purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend. In Georgia the statistics are
even higher: Approximately 1 in 6 report teen dating violence and the
violence is occurring at a much younger age. A 2009 DCD study found
that nearly half of 6th graders (42.1 percent) who were in a
relationship also reported experiencing physical dating violence in the
past 3 months. Partnering with the Atlanta Public School system, the
Dept of Juvenile Justice and numerous other organizations, this
multi-year effort has a 4-point strategy to stop dating violence and
abuse: educating teens; engaging the parents, teachers and other adults
who influencing young people; changing public policy; and implementing
social marketing. this morning at a press conference to announce the launch of a new
program to stop teen dating violence funded with a generous grant from
the
Besides doing physical harm and even causing death, Teen dating
violence and abuse is associated with higher rates of drug and alcohol
abuse, unplanned pregnancy, STDs, depression, and suicidal tendencies.
This is a problem that impacts more than 1 million young people each
year, crossing all race and socio-economic boundaries, perpetuating an
intergenerational cycle of violence and abuse.
It was a large and wonderful event with a broad showing of support from elected officials, professors at Emory School of Medicine, Grady Teen Clinic, Atlanta Public School officials and the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention.
About 15 high School Students performed a song they have created about
the new program to the tune of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” I saw many
old friends whom I haven’t seen in over a year– Dr Sarah Berga, Chair
of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology which houses the JF
Center, Dr Ralph DeClementii, professor and researcher in the filed of
adolescent reproductive health, the nationally respected Dr Marion
Howard in whose name I endowed a chair at Emory School of Medicine,
Marie Mitchell who used to run the Grady Teen Clinic and who is now at
the JF Center and the JF Center director, Missy Kottke. I’m so proud of
the work they are doing. If you want to know more, check out the Jane Fonda Center Website that’s shown on the right column at the front page of my blog.