| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Kelly Taft or Renae Tenney
(602) 254-6300
ktaft@mag.maricopa.gov Teens Speak Out About Dating Violence(PHOENIX, June 26, 2008)—Local teens are inviting Valley radio stations to help them speak out against violence in dating relationships. Teens will reach out to their peers about the importance of identifying abusive dating relationships through a new public service announcement promoting the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Youth Empowerment Project. The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) will release the public service announcement to radio stations today. The PSA, titled, That’s Not Love, That’s Abuse, highlights for teens the importance of recognizing the signs of an abusive dating relationship. Teens will communicate to their peers that their dating partners should never be verbally, mentally or physically abusive. “In only 30 seconds, this PSA highlights the verbal, psychological and physical abuse that many young people are facing in their dating relationships,” says Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross, who chairs the MAG Regional Council. Manross says focus groups revealed that more than half of teens in our community say they, or someone they know, have been involved in an abusive dating relationship. The PSA provides hope to those experiencing an abusive relationship by encouraging them to visit the project’s Web site at www.WebofFriends.org. The Web site provides valuable online resources, including peer testimonials from young adults who have experienced dating violence. “We want teens to feel empowered not only to make healthy decisions regarding their own dating relationships, but also to help their friends do the same,” said Mayor Manross. “Our hope is teens will visit the Web of Friends Internet site for information that can help keep themselves and their friends safe.” Earlier this year, Valley youth submitted content ideas for the radio spot to MAG’s Youth Empowerment Project through a special PSA competition. More than 50 teens sent in entries addressing the issue of dating violence. Elements of the top three winning entries were incorporated into the final radio PSA, which was message-tested with more than 140 teens and adults. The PSA, That’s Not Love, That’s Abuse, is available for download at www.WebOfFriends.org. Original entries for the top three competition winners are also available on the project’s Web site. The Youth Empowerment Project is supported by grant funding through the Governor’s Office for Women, Youth and Families, Division for Women. For more information about the PSA or the Youth Empowerment Project, please contact Kelly Taft, MAG Communications Manager, or Renae Tenney, MAG Human Services Planner, at (602) 254-6300, or visit www.WebofFriends.org. # # # | 
