Celebrating Black History Month

February 16, 2023

It's mid-February and the state continues to celebrate Black History Month. Please read below to see how Connecticut is paying tribute to our African-American community.

We know that teaching our kids more about diversity in the classroom is critical to providing students with a better understanding of who we are as a society and where we are going.
As some other states, like Florida, try to ignore history, Connecticut is empowering it. That's why we were the first state in the nation to require all high schools in the state to offer courses on African-American, Black, Puerto Rican, and Latino studies.
 
TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, a time to spotlight the dangers and warning signs of dating violence to help protect our youth.  

Data shows 26% of high school students in Connecticut have experienced verbally or emotionally abusive relationships, 9% have experienced physical abuse, and 11% have experienced sexual abuse. At the same time, 82% of parents nationwide are unaware that teen dating violence is an issue.  

We must continue educating parents, guardians, community leaders, and friends on understanding what constitutes dating violence and what we can do to protect our young people against this kind of abuse. 58% of parents cannot correctly identify all the warning signs of dating violence. Please click here to learn more about dating violence early warnings.  

Healthy relationships are built on trust, independence, honesty, and kindness. Teaching our youth to value and seek out healthy relationships is of paramount importance not only to their physical and emotional well-being, but also to their development. See here for ten signs of a healthy relationship. 

All adolescents can experience dating violence. However, young women and trans and gender non-conforming youth are at a disproportionality higher risk of experiencing this kind of abuse. Click here for more information and resources on dating violence in LGBTQ+ relationships. 
If you believe your teen or one of their friends is in danger – help is available. Individuals and families can contact CT Safe Connect from anywhere 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, to receive a thorough assessment of needs, emotional support, safety planning and options. Contact them by calling or texting (888) 774-2900, send a confidential email to safeconnect@ctcadv.org or use their web chat. All services are confidential, safe, free, and voluntary.     

Find more information and useful resources on this issue below. 

Interval House offers a large range of resources on teen dating violence. Resources are available in both English and Spanish.

CT.gov has a large range of resources covering teen dating violence and domestic abuse, as well as relevant legislation.

Click here to read President Joe Biden's proclamation on Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
 
IMPROVING YOUR FAMILY'S MENTAL HEALTH
Any family member can feel stressed or overwhelmed between juggling work, managing relationships, and taking care of loved ones. More than a quarter of U.S. adults say they’re so stressed they can’t function
 
Children and teenagers are not immune to the stress of schedule overload. They are busy with after-school activities, sports, and spending time with friends. Some kids may actually be driving the busy schedule for fear of being left out by their peers. Many teens feel pressured to stack their schedules with the hope of impressing potential colleges. On top of that, many parents have the desire to keep kids productive and provide them with enriching experiences. While all parties may have good intentions, it leaves everyone’s calendar bursting at the seams.
 
Finding the right balance between outside obligations and a healthy family life is more important than ever. While there may be some benefits to keeping kids busy, the constantly hectic schedules can have serious mental health consequences for both parents and kids. Surveys in some towns in Southwest CT show that 27.1% of youth in grades 7-12 reported feeling anxiety in the past year “almost always,” and 27.4% feel their anxiety makes their lives difficult “nearly all the time”.
CLICK HER FOR TIPS ON HOW TO BALANCE WORK, SCHOOL, AND HOME RESPONSIBILITIES