On Wednesday, February 12, nearly 60 teens from local schools gathered at One Safe Place San Marcos for CRC’s Teens for Healthy Relationships Conference, an annual event dedicated to promoting healthy relationships and raising awareness about dating abuse.
CRC’s Healthy Relationships Conference provided a space for open and meaningful conversations about dating abuse red flags, healthy relationship green flags and what safe, supportive relationships look like. CRC’s team, Luis Canseco, Domestic Violence Education & Prevention Manager, and Veronica Lopez, Bilingual Education Prevention Specialist, guided the discussion, engaging youth attendees in active conversations, with many stepping up to help lead. By fostering a judgment-free environment, teens felt comfortable asking questions—many anonymously—allowing for honest dialogue on an issue that deeply affects young people.
This conference was a collaborative effort with the Teen Dating Violence (TDV) Committee, a coalition of organizations across San Diego dedicated to preventing dating abuse and fostering healthy relationships. The TDV Committee works directly with youth, parents, and professionals—including those in healthcare and education—to provide resources and support that help create safer communities.
A special thank you to CRC volunteers Mattea Day, Ferdouse Habib, and Niya Partridge for their invaluable support. They helped serve food, capture event moments, welcome attendees and ensure the event ran smoothly.
Resources for Teens: Learn More & Get Help
Understanding what a healthy relationship looks like is essential for preventing dating abuse. Love is Respect is a national resource offering education, support and advocacy for young people experiencing unhealthy or abusive relationships. Teens can find confidential help, quizzes to assess their relationships, and tips on setting boundaries.
Visit Love is Respect for more information: www.loveisrespect.org
Text “LOVEIS” to 22522 for confidential support
Call 1-866-331-9474 to speak with an advocate
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, an important time when we come together to educate and empower young people about safe and respectful relationships.
CRC’s Prevention & Education & Prevention
In addition to providing comprehensive services for survivors of domestic violence, CRC works proactively to prevent dating violence by teaching youth about healthy relationships.
Our DV Prevention and Education team offers:
- In-depth workshops and classes for students, teachers, and parents.
- School-based programs that train peer counselors to support their classmates.
- A 40-hour Domestic Violence Advocate Training, equipping participants with in-depth knowledge about intimate partner violence and survivor empowerment.
If you’re interested in a presentation or workshop for your school, organization, or community group, contact us today!
