Constable 5 Supports Teen Dating Violence Awareness Campaign

October 9, 2007 - Austin, Texas

Constable Bruce Elfant’s office was instrumental in the coordination and unveiling of the new Teen Dating Violence Awareness ads on Capitol Metro buses, and throughout AISD middle and high schools for Domestic Violence Awareness month. The Constable’s office worked hand in hand with the Austin/Travis County Family Violence Task Force and its partners, notably the Texas Advocacy Project and SafePlace in a concerted effort to increase awareness about the very real problem of teen dating violence in our schools and in the community.

Each year the ATCFVTF hosts an awareness campaign designed to encourage discussion in the community about the various issues surrounding family violence. This year’s campaign follows last year’s campaign and once again tackles the issue of Teen Dating Violence. “We felt it was important to spend time again this year focusing on Teen Dating Violence,” stated Kirsha Haverlah, Chair of Public Awareness Committee for ATCFVTF. “It is such an impressionable period for young people learning about interpersonal relationships; it helps if we can start the discussion about what a healthy relationship looks like.”

Capitol Metro generously donated space for the ads on its buses until the end of this year and Applied Mechanical Corp. provided funds for the ad materials and four posters for each middle school and high school in the Austin Independent School District.