PRESS RELEASE

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County Family Haven has launched an awareness campaign to support National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

The campaign initiative will run throughout the month of February on 8 billboards located throughout Forsyth County in an effort to capture the attention of both parents and teens from Forsyth’s 8 High Schools and 11 Middle Schools.

Over the past 3 years, Family Haven has developed an awareness program, “Date Strong,” to promote healthy relationships in an effort to be proactive rather than reactive. The billboard was designed to support the positive energy of the program while provoking thought.

Amy Barfield, executive director of family Haven states, “We want to provide our youth the knowledge and tools needed to cultivate healthy relationships and identify warning signs of unhealthy relationships.”

Teen dating violence is an adverse childhood event that can have lingering effects impacting general health, potential and overall well-being. Nationally, 33% of adolescents in America are victim to sexual, physical, verbal, or emotional dating abuse and it is estimated that only 1/3 of the incidences are actually reported.

Barfield continues, “Everyone deserves to live a life free from violence, and at Family Haven, we believe education is one of the strongest tools we have to achieve that outcome. Our billboard campaign is designed with the same positive energy we use to approach education and awareness.”

About Forsyth County Family Haven Family Haven is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs of victims by providing emergency shelter and services, community out-reach and educational services.