CDC's Choose Respect initiative

Published: August 9, 2007

Launched nationally in May 2006, CDC's Choose Respect initiative has come a long way in a short time. Recently the initiative was awarded the CINE Golden Eagle Award for the public service announcement (PSA) Just Talk.

Just Talk targets parents by encouraging them to learn about dating abuse, talk to their kids about how dating abuse can happen, and teach their kids how to choose respect in all their relationships. In English, Just Talk is available in 30- and 60-second lengths.

Choose Respect is an initiative that seeks to help adolescents form healthy relationships to prevent dating abuse before it starts. The initiative reaches out to adolescents, ages 11 to 14, at a time when they are still forming attitudes and beliefs that will affect how they are treated and how they treat others. The initiative also connects with parents, teachers, youth leaders, and other caregivers who influence the lives of young teens.

"It is extremely important for all children to grow up healthy and strong, and we have a responsibility to provide an atmosphere or context that fosters healthy growth and development," said Ileana Arias, PhD, director, NCIPC. "Choose Respect does exactly that by providing youth and their parents with tools to understand what a healthy relationship is and� the� important warning signs� to recognize� an abusive relationship."

CINE and the CINE Golden Eagle Award

Founded in 1957 by a consortium representing business, education, and government to depict American life and thought realistically for a global audience, CINE continues to recognize and foster the highest quality of non-theatrical film and video production through its semi-annual competitions. The CINE Golden Eagle Award acknowledges high quality professional production in a variety of content categories, as well as in student and independent works.