AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas organization is teaching an important lesson outside the classroom.
More than 75% of 16 to 24 year old Texans experience teen dating violence or know someone who has. Now teens are learning to recognize the signs, thanks to the Texas Advocacy Project (TAP).
TAP recently launched its latest Teen Ambassadors of Hope program. The organization wants to teach teens the signs to look out for in an unhealthy relationships and empower them with resources to either prevent a dangerous situation or get out of one.
TAP kicked the program off with an all-day orientation. Teens came to Austin from all over Texas for the education and leadership program, where they work on increasing awareness around dating violence.
That designation includes sexual assault, stalking, controlling behavior, emotional abuse, harassment and more – things many teens admit they weren't familiar with before the training.
"I think the biggest thing is just how real it is. Because when I showed up, I don't know, it just felt kind of at arm's distance. And I didn't actually know like, that it was happening to so many people around me," Ingrid Smith told KVUE.
The teens also learn about resources to help, including TAP itself, which helps provide free legal services for anyone suffering from dating or domestic violence.
Because TAP is a free resource, the Teen Ambassadors of Hope program also works to raise money for its mission. Learn more about the program and TAP as a whole.
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