Vice President Joe Biden Sends First Text to loveisrespect.org
Austin, TX — Today loveisrespect.org, a unique partnership between Break the Cycle and the National Dating Abuse Helpline, is leveraging the power of technology to help end dating abuse among teens and young adults, ages 13-24. In today’s environment, technology is at the epicenter of how teens and young adults communicate. The National Partnership to End Dating Abuse, loveisrespect.org is simultaneously launching the first nationwide text service addressing dating abuse alongside the most comprehensive online destination to engage, educate and empower teens and young adults to prevent and end abusive relationships.
The critical importance of addressing dating abuse early and via technology has caught the attention of many. Today, Vice President Joe Biden is the first to demonstrate to the country the simplicity and utility of the texting service by sending the first message. With the innovative structure of the new loveisrespect.org, teens and young adults can now get immediate help no matter where they are by texting “LOVEIS” to 77054.
With sophisticated training and professional oversight, peer advocates, ages 16-24, are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These advocates help their fellow teens and 20-somethings build healthy relationships, recognize the warning signs of abuse and create safety plans. Their work is further complemented and informed by the comprehensive resources online at loveisrespect.org.
This collaborative partnership to end dating abuse is turning heads in Washington and the wallets of corporate America. At the top of the list, those dedicated to ending dating violence are the Office on Violence Against Women, Liz Claiborne Inc., Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), Verizon and mark, a division of Avon Products.
Statistics show that one in three teens will experience abuse in a dating relationship and more than two-thirds of them will never report it to anyone. Aiming to reduce these numbers, the mission-focused team at loveisrespect.org made major strides in this effort today. “We praise Vice President Joe Biden for his lifelong support of ending domestic violence and appreciate his help in launching the new text feature.” said Dyanne Purcell, CEO, National Dating Abuse Helpline.
“Through our Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, our partnership with the National Dating Abuse Helpline and Break the Cycle will provide a collaborative and innovative approach to end dating violence. We look forward to leveraging this user-friendly environment to build safe and healthy relationships among teens,” said David Sandor, Vice President of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs at HCSC.
In addition to the text feature, the new loveisrespect.org website provides the ultimate online destination for dating abuse help. The interactive site offers an extensive library of relationship tips, tools and resources. “Break the Cycle’s depth of expertise in this field spans more than 15 years of serving teens and young adults on the ground, in schools and in communities across all fifty states.” said Marjorie Gilberg, Executive Director of Break the Cycle. “Our hands-on prevention programs are the perfect companion to the Helpline’s crisis services.”
“Teen dating violence is an urgent and far too silent an epidemic,” said Rose Stuckey Kirk, Verizon. “It is critical that we expand technology in this way to provide young people immediate access to help.” Vanessa Reggiardo, mark global President added, “We applaud loveisrespect.org’s youth-centered, youth-led approach to the sensitive issue of dating abuse.”
“By meeting teens and young adults where they are in the digital world, Break the Cycle and the National Dating Abuse Helpline are taking a revolutionary approach to ending dating violence. There is no question that hundreds of thousands of people across the country will benefit from this life-changing resource.” rallied Liz Claiborne’s Jane Randel.
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About loveisrespect.org
The new loveisrespect.org helps teens and young adults, ages 13-24 navigate the spectrum of healthy relationship behaviors. Young people will learn there are options, answers and support available to them every hour of every day. Break the Cycle and the National Dating Abuse Helpline designed the site specifically for this young audience, emphasizing confidentiality and trust to ensure teens and young adults nationwide feel safe and supported — online and off.
For nearly five years, the National Dating Abuse Helpline has operated the only peer-to-peer online chat service and 24/7 call center in the country. Break the Cycle is the nation’s leading organization addressing dating abuse with more than 15 years of providing training, education, online resources, advocacy and activism. The new loveisrespect.org operates within this partnership and is the home for the first in the nation texting service and a vast online library of interactive related resources.