Domestic Violence Prevention Program Honors Teen Artists
Teen dating violence is an urgent, silent epidemic in Santa Barbara County. One in three teens report experiencing abuse in a dating relationship and most teens will never report the abuse to anyone. Dating violence is not just dangerous and sometimes lethal, teens that experience abuse in a relationship exhibit higher rates of violence, school drop-out rates, drug abuse, high-risk sexual behavior and suicide.
On Thursday, February 9, 2012 Mayor Helene Schneider will honor the top poster design contest winners at Santa Barbara Central Library (Faulkner Gallery) at 40 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The event, sponsored by Youth Making Change will feature food, music, and raffle giveaways as well as premier the “What is Love” public service announcement.
Local artists Nancy Gifford, Dorothy Dearman, Jane Litchfield, and Heather Tanger-Black of Tanger Designs will select winners of the poster competition. The top design will win $250 and 2000 copies of the poster will be displayed throughout Santa Barbara County. The top 25 designs will be featured in Santa Barbara Central Library (Teen Corner) throughout February. During the first week of February, teens can vote for their Teen Choice Award.
Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County is the county’s only full-service domestic violence agency, committed to ending the intergenerational cycle of domestic violence through prevention and intervention services, and through challenging society’s attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to effect social change. DVS provides the county’s only 24-hour shelter services for battered women and their children, as well as the county’s only transitional housing programs for domestic violence survivors. DVS also operates four 24-hour hotlines; accompanies police on domestic violence calls; works to prevent domestic violence through teen outreach and education programs; and provides comprehensive counseling services to men, women, and children affected by domestic violence. DVS programs serve Santa Barbara, Lompoc, and Santa Maria.