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Helping to Stop Domestic Violence in Travis County

Constable 5 Supports Teen Dating Violence Awareness Campaign


October 9, 2008 - 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 Travis County Akins High School Key Club members - Kay Torriente, Daniel Arroyo and Megan Meyer 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 Texas Advocacy Project, AISD, 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 once again tackles the issue of Teen Dating Violence. “Austin is such a leader on this issue in the state and in the country that we wanted to highlight that,” stated Kirsha Haverlah, Chair of Public Awareness Committee for ATCFVTF. “Our talented young people are speaking out through art, theatre, and poetry to reach their peers, and we are happy to give them a voice.”

Austin High students Cora Lee and Ashlee Arredondo, members of Changing Lives Youth Theatre CompanyThe artwork and PSA which will be highlighted during the campaign are winning pieces from the Texas Advocacy Project’s (The Project) “Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Poster Contest” and the TCSO’s and Austin Film Festival’s ”Teen Dating Violence Awareness PSA Competition.” These contests tap into the artistic talents of Austin area teens, resulting in original designs and productions created by teens in support of raising awareness among their peers about the startling epidemic of teen dating violence.

Capitol Metro generously donated space for the ads on its buses until the end of this year and Applied Mechanical Corp. and Impact 3 provided funds for the ad materials and four posters for each middle school and high school in the Austin Independent School District. This year's posters are available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese. (Click on the links to download or print 8-1/2"x11" .pdfs of the posters)

The Constable's office is proud to be part of this community effort to prevent all types of domestic violence before it occurs.

Representatives of Constable Bruce Elfant's office and Impact 3 staff with the 2008 bus ad campaign