JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Joint Base San Antonio helping agencies will focus on building healthy relationships through a range of activities during Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month in February.
At JBSA-Randolph, workshops for teenagers and parents, a teen essay contest and a body image discussion are among the activities that will raise awareness of a crime that affects nearly 10 percent of high school students, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey.
Emily Mueller, 359th Medical Operations Squadron Family Advocacy intervention specialist, said Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month activities at JBSA are a collaborative effort of Family Advocacy Programs, Youth Programs, Chapel Services, school liaison officers, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, and Military and Family Life Counselors.
JBSA-Randolph activities will kick off with an open forum discussion called "SWAG for Parents" from 5-6:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Military and Family Readiness Center, building 693. SWAG stands for "Students Wanting Age-appropriate Guidance."
"SWAG for Teens" is scheduled from 7-9 p.m. Feb. 13 at Youth Programs, building 584.
Gina Ramirez, 359th MDOS outreach/resiliency specialist, said participants at both workshops will learn about "healthy relationships, social courage, self-image and awareness, coping strategies and healthy communication."
"We're really hoping to bring awareness and prevention strategies to parents as well as teens," she said. "We want to create a culture where it's comfortable to talk about these kinds of things."
Another event planned for Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month is "Wear Orange 4 Love" Day Feb. 10. Members of the JBSA-Randolph community are encouraged to wear something orange; shirts, nail polish, ribbons, jewelry and shoes are among the possibilities. Participants are encouraged to tell others why they are wearing orange and to post pictures and updates on Twitter using #Orange4Love #RespectWeek2015 or on facebook.com/loveisrespectpage.
JBSA-Randolph Youth Programs and the JBSA-Randolph Chapel youth programs will coordinate the essay contest for 13- to 18-year-olds. Essays are due Feb. 18 to Youth Programs; the JBSA-Randolph First Sergeants' Council will review the entries.
"We're asking teens to write an essay that tells the ways they can contribute to healthy relationships," Ramirez said.
An event that will unite all three JBSA locations, the Teen Poetry Slam, is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. Feb. 21 at the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Military and Family Readiness Center. Open to 13- to 18-year-old military-dependent students, the poetry slam will feature cash prizes for participants as well as food, music, door prizes and resources. The event is only open to 15 performers, so early registration is recommended.
Ramirez said workshops to help JBSA-Randolph poetry slam participants prepare for their performances are scheduled from 5-6 p.m. Jan. 28 and Feb. 4, 11 and 18 at Youth Programs. Participants must call 652-6038 to register. Other JBSA locations are also planning workshops.
"Body Image and Nutrition Teen Talk" will be presented by the chapel youth coordinator from 5-6 p.m. Feb. 25 at Youth Programs. During this forum, teenagers will learn about making healthy eating choices and making the connection that a healthy lifestyle includes relationship choices and body image. Participants should register by Feb. 24 at Youth Programs.
Other activities planned at JBSA-Randolph during Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month are public service announcements from Youth Programs staff and students, posters and handouts at the medical treatment facility, a T-shirt logo and slogan contest for Youth Programs students and chapel youth, and Jeans for Teens.
Jeans will be collected Feb. 2-28 for residents of Boysville, a residential care facility that provides support and a home for children. Receptacles will be placed at different locations throughout JBSA-Randolph.
For more information on JBSA-Randolph activities during Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, call 652-6038.