This House resolution designates February 2026 as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. It cites data from the CDC and National Institute of Justice on teen dating violence, including four forms of abuse and the rise of technology-facilitated abuse such as cyber extortion, cyberstalking, and doxing.
The measure also references established prevention resources and programs, and it urges broad observance and education across schools, families, and communities without creating new regulatory duties or funding requirements.
By tying together epidemiological data with prevention resources, the resolution frames teen dating violence as a preventable public health issue and positions awareness and education as core tools. It notes programs like Coaching Boys Into Men and the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline, and it situates this designation alongside related efforts in federal policy to improve coordination and support for youth in healthy relationships.
At a Glance
What It Does
Designates February 2026 as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month and calls for nationwide observance through education and awareness activities.
Who It Affects
Affects teens in dating relationships, schools and school districts, youth-serving organizations, families, and communities involved in prevention efforts.
Why It Matters
Highlights a preventable public health issue with a broad national impact and leverages existing resources to promote healthy relationship standards among youth.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The bill is a symbolic, non-binding House resolution that designates February 2026 as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. It is framed around the idea that teen dating violence is a preventable public health crisis that disproportionately affects young women and that education and prevention programs can reduce risk.
The resolution cites data from the CDC, NIJ, and the Cyberbullying Research Center to illustrate the scope of the problem, including physical, sexual, psychological, and stalking behavior, as well as technology-facilitated abuse such as cyberstalking and doxing.
It also references established resources and programs—such as Coaching Boys Into Men and the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline—and notes the role of broader federal frameworks like the Violence Against Women Act and its youth-focused components as context for prevention efforts. The measure urges schools, families, and communities to observe the designation with appropriate activities, education, and support programs, but it does not authorize new spending or impose new regulatory duties.
The aim is to elevate awareness, coordinate existing resources, and encourage actions that promote healthy, respectful relationships among youth across the country.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill designates February 2026 as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.
It urges nationwide observance through education, awareness activities, and prevention efforts.
It cites CDC/NIJ data on teen dating violence and technology-facilitated abuse to justify the designation.
It references and supports existing prevention programs such as Coaching Boys Into Men and the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline.
As a resolution, it does not create new spending or enforceable requirements.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Designation of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
The resolution designates February 2026 as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, signaling national recognition and a call to focus public health and education efforts on teen dating violence prevention.
Observance and Education Encouraged
It urges schools, communities, and families to observe the designation with awareness activities, education, and prevention programs, leveraging existing resources and partnerships to promote healthy relationships among youth.
Context and Public Health Framing
The measure frames teen dating violence as a preventable public health issue, citing CDC/NIJ data on prevalence and the role of technology in abuse, and it situates the effort within broader federal prevention frameworks.
Calls to Action for Stakeholders
The resolution calls on youth, parents, schools, law enforcement, state and local officials, nonprofits, and other groups to participate in observances and activities that raise awareness and support for affected teens.
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Every bill creates winners and losers. Here's who stands to gain and who bears the cost.
Who Benefits
- Teens in dating relationships gain visibility, awareness, and access to supportive resources.
- Schools and school districts can integrate prevention discussions and activities into health and counseling programs.
- Parents and guardians receive guidance on recognizing and addressing teen dating violence.
- Community organizations and hotlines can connect more youths to counseling and support services.
- Public health and youth-serving agencies coordinate prevention efforts and share best practices.
Who Bears the Cost
- Local education agencies may incur modest costs to plan and host observances or outreach.
- Community organizations may need resources to develop materials or coordinate events.
- Public health departments may invest time and personnel in outreach and partnership building.
- Nonprofit organizations focused on teen dating violence prevention may incur operating costs to sustain campaigns.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
Raising national awareness for teen dating violence is valuable, but without new funding or programmatic mandates, the measure’s effectiveness depends on local execution and sustained investment in prevention and support services.
The designation rests on the assumption that increasing awareness and education will improve prevention outcomes. It relies on existing programs and services rather than creating new funding streams or regulatory mandates.
This approach can lead to uneven implementation across districts and communities, depending on local capacity and partnerships. A key question is whether heightened awareness alone translates into measurable reductions in teen dating violence, or whether it must be paired with funded, scalable prevention strategies and ongoing evaluation to demonstrate impact.
The resolution also aligns with prior federal efforts like the SMART Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Act and the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline, but it does not specify new program authority or budgetary obligations beyond those existing contexts.
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