Domestic Violence Awareness Month

WHEREAS, domestic violence hurts Alabama families, our children and our communities; and

WHEREAS, domestic violence is a learned behavior and often begins in youth dating relationships; and

WHEREAS, 11.5 percent of Alabama high school students reported that they have experienced dating violence in which they were hit or kicked by a boyfriend or girlfriend and 10.5 percent were sexually assaulted; and

WHEREAS, 20 percent of teen girls exposed to physical dating violence did not attend school because the teen girls felt unsafe either at school, or on the way to or from school; and

WHEREAS, digital abuse is becoming a new frontier for teen dating abuse, and 25 percent of teens report being cyber-bullied; and

WHEREAS, the severity of adult domestic violence has been shown to be greater in cases where the violence began in adolescence; and

WHEREAS, church and school-based prevention programs are essential to addressing teen dating violence and to promoting healthy dating relationships; and

WHEREAS, concerned citizens, organizations and communities throughout Alabama have implemented innovative and effective programs to raise awareness and to prevent domestic and dating violence; and

WHEREAS, Domestic Violence Awareness Month recognizes the impact of domestic violence on our families and encourages citizens and communities to work together to prevent domestic violence and dating violence and to promote healthy and respectful relationships and families:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim the month of October 2013, as

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

in the state of Alabama.