Sen. Leach meets with students and their families at his reception honoring the Laurel House's Dating Violence Awareness Poster Contest Winners.
KING OF PRUSSIA, February 10, 2012 – State Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Delaware/Montgomery) today extended his thanks to the guests of last night’s reception honoring the winners of Laurel House's 2011 Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness Poster Contest.
The reception, held at his King of Prussia office, recognized the winners of a contest asking Montgomery County high school students to create posters raising awareness for teen dating violence. The event was well attended by students and their families, teachers and administrators from across Montgomery County.
“I’d like to thank everyone who participated in the teen dating violence poster contest and the people who work every day to raise awareness about this pressing issue,” Leach said. “Dating violence can have a lasting impact on victims; it’s important that we inform our youth about its risks and remind them that any incidence of violence, no matter how seemingly small, should be reported to the police.”
According to Laurel House, teen dating violence is a form of domestic violence that affects 1 in 5 teens in a serious relationship. Teens affected by dating violence reported being hit, slapped, or pushed by their significant other. Additionally, Laurel House noted that many of the worst incidents of dating violence occur at school.
Laurel House is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to “provide safe haven for abused women and their children, to raise public awareness about domestic violence and to advocate for social change against domestic violence.” Laurel House’s domestic violence shelter for abused women and children was founded by the Women's Center of Montgomery County in 1980. Since then, it has implemented other programs including a 24-hour hotline, transitional housing, medical and legal advocacy, community counseling and support groups, children's programs, education and prevention efforts, and an upscale resale thrift shop.
The winning posters will be displayed in Leach’s King of Prussia office through the end of the month.
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