Tyra Hager-Smith
Pamphlets from the YWCA that are used in High School 101 classes at Wheeling Park High School.
Tyra Hager-Smith, Staff Writer
Domestic Violence Awareness Month is every October to raise awareness about the impact of domestic violence and to make survivors seen. Throughout the month, different organizations work together to make survivors’ stories seen.
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline website, an average of 24 people per minute are victims of physical violence by an intimate partner in the United States- more than 12 million women and men over the course of a single year. Just under 15% of women (14.8%) and 4% of men in the US have been injured as a result of intimate partner violence that included rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner.
Mrs. Haley Reed is a teen dating violence advocate and actively works with students throughout Wheeling Park High School. She presents information to students on various issues such as violence prevention and teen dating.
“I also would just like to let kids know that I exist here in this school and if they or their family needs help, they can always reach out,” said Reed. “We have a lot of different services outside of domestic violence…We provide legal services for anyone experiencing any type of victimization. We have emergency safe shelters for women and children and we provide alternative safe shelters for men and children if they are fleeing as well. We assist with court protective orders and various legal matters we can help refer people to.”
Students benefit greatly from access to resources and education through the YWCA. Many of the lessons Mrs. Reed teaches are echoed by our counselors in their classes or sessions at school.
“Some of the lessons that she goes over and I try to reiterate in class include understanding teen dating violence which can transform into domestic violence later in life, positive and negative self-talk, and the types of abuse and violence people can face in life in general,” said Wheeling Park counselor, Mrs. Kreitzer.
If you need services or would like to reach out the YWCA of Wheeling is located at1100 Chapline St, Wheeling, WV 26003 and can be reached at(304) 232-0511. Mrs. Reed can be directly reached at [email protected].
“I hope that students learn what red flags they need to look for in relationships, but also to look for red flags in other people in their lives that may be experiencing domestic violence,” stated Reed.
If you see something, say something.