February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) – a time dedicated to raising awareness about unhealthy and abusive relationships among teens, promoting prevention, and making sure young people know where to turn for help.
But awareness doesn’t happen on its own.
At Hays High School, our Student Advisory Board (SAB) members are helping lead that work. They aren’t just participants in Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month – they are shaping the conversations, guiding our programming, and making sure the education we provide actually reflects what students are seeing and experiencing. Truly, these students are leaders in changing our culture.
Our SAB helps us understand what teens really need. They participate in and lead awareness events, help plan educational opportunities within the school, and give honest feedback that strengthens our prevention and response efforts. Most importantly, they bring student voice work that directly impacts their peers.
During Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, we asked our SAB members what this month means to them. Their answers remind us why this work matters.
For Bryson, our Treasurer, the issue is deeply personal.
“I have been in a toxic relationship that was nearing abusive,” he shared. “At the time, I didn’t fully understand what was happening, or the severity. I think it’s really important that students know how to recognize warning signs – and know how to contact resources for help if they need it.”
Bryson’s experience highlights something we see often: unhealthy behaviors don’t always feel obvious at first. Jealousy can be mistaken for love. Control can be framed as protection. “Playful” banter can quickly become demeaning insults. Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month creates space to talk openly about red flags (like isolation, manipulation, intimidation) and ensures students know how to reach out for help before situations escalate.
For Keeley, our Co-President, awareness starts with defining what’s normal – and what isn’t.
“Awareness is key,” she explained. “It doesn’t just happen to adults, and it’s important for students to recognize the situations they may be in. Some students might see unhealthy or abusive behaviors modeled in their own homes and not realize that it’s not normal. That’s why it’s so important to have these discussions – so we can define what is and isn’t abuse.”
Without clear conversations, harmful behaviors can become normalized. TDVAM gives us an opportunity to challenge those patterns and replace them with examples of healthy, respectful relationships.
Gracie, our Secretary, sees this month as a time to amplify voices that often go unheard.
“TDVAM is important to me because it’s an opportunity to advocate for people who might be afraid to ask for help,” she said. “Coming forward is a big deal for young people. They need to know they aren’t alone. There are people that love them and are here to help.”
For teens, asking for help can feel overwhelming. Fear of not being believed, social consequences, or embarrassment can keep someone silent. Seeing peers lead this work helps break down those barriers.
Johanna, a SAB member, focused on prevention.
“We have to keep these behaviors from being normalized,” she said. “If we don’t talk about it, people start thinking it’s just how relationships are.”
And Jude, also a member, reminded us how close to home this issue can be.
“I’ve personally known other students and friends who needed help. That’s why this month matters. It’s real.”
Teen dating violence isn’t just a statistic. It exists in our hallways, in group chats, and in quiet conversations between friends. 1 in 3 teens in the United States will experience some form of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse in their relationship before they graduate from high school. Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month gives us intentional space to confront that reality – and to respond.
Our Student Advisory Board ensures that this work isn’t something done to students, but something built with them. Their leadership makes our programming stronger, more relevant, and more impactful.
Interested in Joining Our Student Advisory Board at Hays High?
If you’re a student who cares about making your school safer and more informed, we would love to connect with you.
SAB members help lead awareness events, shape teen-focused programming, participate in educational opportunities within the school, and serve as connections among their peers. You don’t need to have all the answers – you just need a willingness to learn, speak up, and be part of meaningful change.
Students can contact our staff SAB sponsor directly at anniston@help4abuse.org or by calling 785-625-4202 to learn more about joining.
We are also happy to answer any questions from parents, educators, or students about what participation looks like and how this work supports youth leadership and safety.
Want to Start a Student Advisory Board in Your School or Community?
If you’re an educator, administrator, or community leader reading this during Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and thinking, “Our students need this,” we would love to talk.
Student Advisory Boards empower young people to lead prevention efforts, guide programming, and create awareness in ways that resonate with their peers. They ensure teen dating violence prevention is informed by student voice and lived experience.
If you’re interested in forming a SAB in your town or partnering with us to bring student-led prevention work to your school, please reach out. When students are trusted with leadership and given the tools to create change, they rise to the occasion.
And Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month is the perfect place to start.
Want to see our students in action? Check out this TikTok video from their Chalk About Love event earlier this month!
If you need any additional information or have a question or a concern, feel free to reach out to Options at our 24-hour toll-free helpline 800-794-4624. You can also reach an advocate via text by texting HOPE to 847411 or click 24-Hour Chat with Options
Written by Anniston Weber
This grant project is supported by the State General Fund for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, sub-grant number 26-SGF-07, as administered by the Kansas Governor’s Grants Program. The opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of Kansas Governor.