Res 0009-2014

By Council Members Chin, Ferreras-Copeland, Levin, Rosenthal, Williams, Johnson, Reynoso, Mendez and Menchaca. Whereas, Dating violence means a pattern of behavior where one person uses threats of, or actually uses physical, sexual, verbal or emotional abuse to control his or her dating partner; and Whereas, Women ages 16 to 24 experience the highest per capita rates of intimate violence; and Whereas, The New York City High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported that in 2011, 10.4% of all high school students in New York City claimed they were hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the past year; and Whereas, A report by the Institute for Women's Policy research recommends that schools incorporate discussions on physical and sexual violence in their programs; and Whereas, Since young people tend to communicate with their friends regarding instances of sexual and dating violence, it is suggested that all teens be equipped with information about service providers and agencies and organizations that can help; and Whereas, Research suggests that during the preteen and teen years, young people learn the skills they need to form positive relationships with others and that these years are an ideal time to promote healthy relationships and prevent patterns of dating violence that can last into adulthood; and Whereas, Low self-esteem has been found to be a predictor for both intimate partner violence victimization and aggression; and Whereas, S. 4860, sponsored by Senator Savino, and its companion bill A. 518, sponsored by Assemblymember Cusick, would require each school district to establish a specific policy to address incidents of dating violence, to provide preventative dating violence training to all school staff at the middle and high school levels, and to provide dating violence awareness training for parents; and Whereas, To assist school districts, S. 4860 and A. 518 would require the State Department of Education to work in conjunction with the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence to develop a model dating policy; and Whereas, Companion bills A. 518 and S. 4860 would also require each school district to incorporate respect and self-esteem education in the annual curriculum for students in grades kindergarten through six and dating violence education into the annual curriculum framework for students in grades seven through twelve; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign A. 518 /S. 4860, to require dating violence education and dating violence policies in schools. JA Res 413/2010 LS 43/2014 1/27/14 1