Rhode Island has recently started mandating that all of the public schools for middle and high school students begin teaching about violence and dating during their health classes. There is a law like this in Pennsylvania, but there are many districts across the area of Pittsburgh that have began to do this anyway, following the death of Demi Cuccia, a junior at Gateway High School, by her boyfriend, who is awaiting trial.

In Moon Area, there is an extracurricular program that has been in effect for two years now. Crisis Center North officials, which is a nonprofit resource center for domestic violence victims and their families, have also offered their programs to other areas of the city.

Stacy de las Alas from Allegheny County Crisis Center North has worked with teens and domestic violence issues. She says that teens don’t always know what is considered abuse. Most of the time, they think that it has to be physical or sexual assault, she continued, but they are ignoring warning signs, such as how many calls or texts they receive. She added that it’s the small things that all piece together.

There is a session every semester at North Hills Junior High hosted by Kelly Snyder and Kelly Hetzler, two physical education and health teachers, along with personnel from Crisis Center North. The teachers say that students don’t realize that abuse can also be emotional or even financial, where the partner is forced to pay for things or shower the other with gifts. The students are taught to foster healthy relationships in this program. Hetzler said that this teaches them their rights and responsibilities in a relationship.

Get more information about this from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review at: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/