The Hays County Commissioners Court proclaimed February as Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month at its Tuesday meeting and thanked the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center (HCWC) for helping young people learn about healthy relationships.
According to the proclamation, “Family, friends, teachers, coaches, faith leaders, community members and other important people in young people’s lives have the power to influence youth in positive ways, and we must work together to raise awareness and promote healthy dating relationships with activities and conversations about mutually respectful and non-violent relationships in our homes, schools and communities.”
Melissa Rodriguez, director of Community Partnerships for the HCWC, told the court that in addition to providing counseling for young people who are already in an unhealthy relationship, the center provides programs to help them prevent dating violence.
Dripping Springs ISD students have been learning about the criminal justice system and dating violence all year and will participate in the 8th annual Dating Violence Mock Trial at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Hays County Government Center. Students have worked all year to prepare for the mock trial, in which students will play the role of all participants – from offenders and defendants to lawyers and jury members. The public is invited to attend.
In 2019 the HCWC provided 163 dating violence prevention and healthy relationships presentations to 2,681 teens and young adults. For more information about the services provided by HCWC, visit www.hcwc.org.
