In an effort to combat the prevalence of teen dating violence, Mecklenburg County has designated February 2026 as Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, as per a recent proclamation aligning with a federal initiative that's been active since 2010. Mecklenburg County's Community Support Services is spearheading the push to educate and equip young people with the knowledge to identify and avoid abusive relationships.
For this year's theme, "Real Love Respects," Love Is Respect has shared that respect stands at the heart of healthy love, a non-negotiable component. "It empowers youth to quickly recognize harmful patterns and to expect more from love," according to the theme announcement. This initiative is striving to directly reach out to the young one in three who experience relationship abuse every year in the nation.
Respect Week, running from next Monday til Friday, offers schools and other organizations the chance to host events centered around teen dating violence awareness. Resources such as an action guide and social media messaging are available on LoveIsRespect.org to help disseminate vital information. Involvement is encouraged to spread the lesson that love should be respectful above all else.
Mecklenburg's Community Support Services is also pushing Wear Orange Day, slated for next Tuesday, an initiative aimed to visually amplify the message against teen dating violence. Donning orange is a simple yet powerful way to show solidarity and to increase the visibility of the resources available to help youths in precarious situations. LoveSpeaksOut, a research-informed prevention program by Community Support Services, provides presentations to community setups and health classes, reaching thousands yearly.
For those seeking support against domestic violence or sexual assault, the 24/7 Greater Charlotte Hope Line is available at 980-771-HOPE (4673). The Domestic Violence Speakers Bureau also offers its services, featuring volunteers and survivors who enlighten the community through storytelling and presentations, maintained through a partnership between Prevention and Intervention Services and Safe Alliance.
