Respect Week, Feb. 9-13, is an opportunity to define and focus on the components of a healthy relationship, and is the week these schools will recognize February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. 

Participating schools include Boothbay Region High School, Wiscasset High School, Lincoln Academy, Camden Hills Regional High School, Medomak Valley High School, Oceanside East High School and Searsport District High School.

Students plan to post signs at their schools to publicize Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month using Maine’s hashtags, #RespectWeekME and #ACT2ENDIT. They’ll also create a display in purple and orange (the colors of ending domestic violence and teen dating violence, respectively) defining what “Love Is” and “Love Is Not.” 

In celebration of Wear Orange for Love Day on February 10, students will wear orange clothing, nail polish, and accessories and post pictures to #RespectWeekME along with a statement of why they wear orange. Their goal is to help raise awareness of the effort while demonstrating their intention to end dating violence.

Meanwhile, all-school announcements will be made by students during Respect Week, highlighting dating violence facts and information about the services provided by New Hope for Women and available to them in the schools.

Adults can show their support of Respect Week by demonstrating a commitment to kindness and respect in their daily interactions, modeling positive conflict resolution, and supporting teens in finding opportunities to feel a sense of belonging and competency in what they do.

Additionally, they can choose to purchase products of companies that use healthy relationship images in their advertising, and consume media that portrays both men and women acting with intellect, compassion and strength of character.

All community members are encouraged to show their support of these teens’ efforts by wearing orange any time during February and posting pictures to #RespectWeekME.

New Hope for Women offers support to people in Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox and Waldo counties affected by domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. It also provides important educational resources to assist our communities in creating a safer and healthier future.

Learn more about New Hope for Women at www.newhopeforwomen.org or call 800-522-3304.