Plains student raises awareness during Teen Dating Violence Week

Danielle Sorenson went to work last week around Plains High School taping little white slips of paper to everyone's locker in grades eight through 12.

The senior began the week Monday by explaining the messages on the slips over the school intercom.

"Feb. 4 through 8 is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week," Sorenson told the students.

"Did you know that about one in three students will be involved in an abusive relationship at some point during high school and that women ages 16-24 experience the highest rates of intimate partner violence?"

Sorenson has been working with Abby Harnett of the Sanders County Coalition For Families and together their aim is to make students more aware of the forms of domestic violence among teens.

Harnett is working with Sorenson closely in a group called the PEACE project or Peers Educating and Advocating for Change and Expectations.

Harnett said their focus this week is primarily on teen dating violence, sexual assault and date rape. She said the PEACE project is effective in getting through to students about important issues.

"I think it works really well," Harnett said. "An adult can go up there and give all the information they have, but they may not hear it."

Harnett said when the information comes from another student, it is more likely to stick.

Sorenson decided to use the statistics to her advantage in getting through to the students at Plains.

On Monday, every one in every three students received a bracelet so students could visualize how many could possibly be in abusive relationships. On Wednesday, one in every five students received whistles, a symbol that students need to "break the silence."

By Friday, students had their choice of a bracelet or a whistle and most of the student body was carrying a prize. The bracelets bared the message "stops with us," and were designed to demonstrate the stand that Sorenson and other students are taking against teen violence.

Plains High School juniors Keaton Jones and Bambi Erving have been working with the PEACE project for a few years and Erving admits it was actually a pizza party that first attracted her to joining the PEACE project. She said it was after going and listening to the cause that she realized it was something she was interested in.

"The pizza was the bait," Erving said. "But their reason was the hook."

Erving said her work with the PEACE project has made her realize it is easier for young people to come to their peers when they are experiencing violence in relationships.

"I think it's easier to come to someone their age who they can relate to," Erving said. "I've had people come tell me they are or know someone who is in an abusive relationship."

Erving said she has had some training, but usually directs those who need help to SCCFF.

"I tell them not to do anything drastic," Erving said. "I give them the phone number for the coalition."

Erving said the PEACE project has been alive at Plains High School for four to five years and she feels it has made a difference from what she has witnessed.

"Since PEACE, I think the level of violence has gone down the last two to three years," Erving said.

Harnett had nothing but praise for Sorenson, Erving and Jones, who was able to go to Pittsburgh one year with Harnett for more advanced training.

"What a great group of girls they are," Harnett said. "These are not easy things to talk about, so they deserve a lot of recognition."

Harnett made a trip to Plains High School for one of her annual presentations Monday, when she spoke about harassment and bullying on a large level. She said it all fits under the category of violence prevention.

Sorenson's intercom message Friday capped off Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week at Plains High School.

"Relationship violence. Break the silence. Be part of the solution," Sorenson announced to the student body.

"Continue to educate yourself on dating violence so that you can be prepared to help a friend."