Res 0309-2018

By Council Members Chin, Treyger and Ayala 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 2015, 12% of high school students in New York City claimed they were hit 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, A.5354, sponsored by Assemblymember Paulin, and its companion bill S.4528, sponsored by Senator Murphy, would encourage the establishment of a school-based teen dating violence prevention program designed to be incorporated into a school district's existing health curriculum to prevent and reduce the incidence and prevalence of teen dating violence; and Whereas, The program would include, among other things, age-appropriate information about health relationships and teen dating violence, and training programs for teachers, administrators, nurses, and mental health staff; and Whereas, In addition, the program would use recommendations and goals of the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and local community providers in developing and implementing guidelines relating to education, strategies and responses to teen dating violence for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade; and Whereas, Companion bills A.5354 and S.4528 would also encourage school districts to adopt a policy which would include a definition of dating violence, a statement that teen dating violence will not be tolerated, and guidelines for responding to incidents of dating violence; 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.5354 / S.4528, to create dating violence education and prevention programs in schools. LS 43/ Res 9-2014 LS# 871 JA 1/3/18 2