LHAS Teen Dating Violence Prevention Committee

LHAS Teen Dating Violence Prevention Committee Takes the Lead by engaging consultant Rochelle Sufrin to develop a teen dating violence prevention pilot program.

Through its various work throughout the community, LHAS leadership has realized the true and very dangerous threat that teen dating violence presents. Although the school systems have statewide mandates for schools to teach primers on healthy relationships (dating or otherwise) to middle school children and older, the reality is that educational budgets are being slashed down to the basic education necessities. Many domestic violence advocates wonder how our community will offer safe, open and ongoing dialogue for all of its members in order to “stop the cycle” of abuse.

For-profit corporations are joining advocates in community groups, religious organizations, non-profits, social service agencies, law enforcement and legislators in recognizing the value in creating goal oriented partnerships in order to create culture changes. In this effort, “LHAS has been a strong supporter for prevention work here in the Pittsburgh community for a number of years”, says Dee Dee Troutman, LHAS executive director at a recent board meeting. “Our leadership and board recognize the importance of not only supporting those victims with safe haven, medical, legal, housing and mental health resources, but, we see the tremendous value in prevention education as it relates to breaking the cycle starting with our youth”, Troutman adds.

The LHAS leadership and board made significant strides to impact the community with its commitment to the prevention agenda of teen dating violence when it agreed to engage Ms. Sufrin, who is an active DV advocate and program consultant.

This is an exciting time for LHAS members as the Teen Dating Violence Prevention initiative gives its brand a new name and logo. Committee and board members will have a special opportunity to preview this new pilot program prior to a public roll out.

For more information about LHAS’s work on domestic violence and the LHAS Teen Dating Violence Prevention initiative, please email Rochelle rrsuf@aol.com or Dee Dee Troutman troutmandm@upmc.edu.

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