You can use digital communication to educate teens, spread the word about where to go for help, and give them a safe way to report abuse. 1 in 4 dating teens experience abuse online, but you can help. You can use digital communication to educate teens, spread the word about where to go for help, and give them a safe way to report abuse. How COVID Is Impacting Youth and How You Can Help Digital Abuse "I wouldn't want parents to have a knee-jerk reaction and take their kids' devices away. We need to let our sons and daughters know they can talk to us, and have nonjudgmental conversations about these issues." —Sameer Hinduja Between virtual classrooms, calls and chats with friends and family, and physical isolation from much of the "outside world," teens are spending a lot of time online. For teens who are dating, their relationships have most likely been gone entirely digital. Pre-COVID, at least 1 in 4 dating teens experienced digital abuse. It's more important than ever that young people have the tools to navigate relationships online, and know how to access support. What is digital abuse? "Digital dating abuse is the use of technologies such as texting and social networking to bully, harass, stalk or intimidate a partner. Often this behavior is a form of verbal or emotional abuse perpetrated online." Learn More Share these 6 tech tips for a healthy relationship "Digital abuse can come from anyone – a dating partner, a friend, or an acquaintance. In a world where we are constantly surrounded by technology, it's important to understand the various forms of abuse that can take place both online and off." Get Tips Share these resources Doorways 24-Hour Domestic & Sexual Violence Hotline: 703-237-0881 Loveisrespect Call: 866-331-9474 / TTY: 866-331-8453 Text: loveis to 1-866-331-9474 Chat: www.loveisrespect.org View Infographic Young Parents "Young parents are at high risk of facing severe hardship as a result of COVID-19." —Urban Institute What young parents need to weather the COVID-19 crisis "Young parents (parents who had their first child when they were between the ages of 16 and 24) are more likely to work in health care or in industries experiencing major layoffs during the pandemic—both circumstances that require expanded access to child care." Read Article Help youth and young parents at Doorways Doorways' Pathways for Youth program is designed to empower young people and their children through supports tailored for them and their unique needs. Donate now to support these and more services for youth and families experiencing homelessness, and/or escaping abuse. Donate Now LGBTQ Youth "A lot of young people when they make it to college are able, for the first time, really, to live their truth." —Psychologist Megan Mooney Home but not safe, some LGBTQ young people face rejection from families in lockdown "Returning to the family home can be traumatizing all over again, she says, especially if parents or siblings reject them or are even hostile. She says LGBTQ young people have a high likelihood of having experienced a lot of trauma and stressful life events already; that means the impact of returning to an unsupportive home is dramatically magnified." Read Article LGBTQ youth experience homelessness at more than 2x the rate of peers "They are also at greater risk for experiencing high levels of hardship, including higher rates of assault, trauma, exchanging sex for basic needs, and early death. Black LGBTQ youth, especially young men, have the highest rates of homelessness." See Report Doorways is a safe zone for LGBTQIA+ people Doorways is committed to creating an environment that provides culturally competent and inclusive services that are non-stigmatizing to all clients regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, sex, gender and gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, age, or disability, as well as to others from diverse backgrounds. Learn More June is Pride Month LGBTQIA+ Trainings for Service Providers Hosted by Project PEACE Join Project PEACE every Thursday in June to learn more about the LGBTQIA+ community! Each session builds on the previous one with a focus on supporting survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence who identify as LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and/or Asexual). Utilizing the Safe Zone training and expertise from local experts and advocates, these sessions seek to help service providers gain the skills they need to create a safe and welcoming environment for LGBTQIA+ people. The Basics: Language and Gender and Sexuality Spectrums June 4th at 1:00 p.m. Register Hidden and Social Biases in the LGBTQ Community June 11th at 1:00 p.m. Register Addressing Domestic and Sexual Violence in the LGBTQ Community June 18th at 1:00 p.m. Register LGBTQ Specific Case Studies (Bring questions or scenarios to discuss) June 25th at 1:00 p.m. Register Drive-Thru Deeds How to Donate Essential Items Have more at home than you need? Swing by our office's Drive-Thru Deeds on Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to drop off items you may have "extra" of at home. Please contact Joy Myers at [email protected] or (703) 504-9290 for donation drop-off instructions. This week's items: Grocery Gift Cards (Giant, Safeway, Harris Teeter, Target) Toilet Paper Paper Towels Cleaning Supplies Hand Sanitizer Can't make it to our HQ? Give through our Amazon Wish List! Shop Now #Cups2Connect: Enter to Win Invite a friend to join our email list for your chance to win two $15 coffee gift cards ☕ Help us build our community while connecting with yours. Enter to win two coffee gift cards to share with a friend! Simply click the button below and invite a friend to subscribe. Enter to Win #Cups2Connect contest ends May 31st! ‌ ‌ ‌ Doorways | P.O. Box 100185, Arlington, VA 22210 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About Constant Contact Sent by [email protected] in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!