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Releases & Statements
Teens
Don't Get Help in Schools or in Courts
New York City Public Advocate
Betsy Gotbaum released a report today uncovering the Department
of Education's (DOE) inadequate approach to dealing with domestic
violence among students. Gotbaum called for a complete overhaul
of DOE training, transfer, and educational policies for addressing
domestic abuse among young people. Gotbaum also faulted the Family
Court system for not allowing teens in dating relationships who
do not have a child in common to obtain orders of protection in
domestic violence cases.
"Our courts and our schools
have failed to help teens in abusive relationships. Both the DOE
and the Courts have to immediately step up to the plate and help
these kids out. If we don't help these young people now, we'll
be helping to perpetuate the cycle of abuse," Gotbaum said.
In 2004, Gotbaum released a report which found that one in five
girls under the age of 18 is in abusive relationships. That year,
the New York City Domestic Violence Hotline received over 18,000
calls from teens. Teens in violent relationships suffer a higher
rate of substance abuse, eating disorders, high-risk sexual behavior,
and suicide. High school girls in abusive relationships are four
to six times more likely to become pregnant, and, expectant mothers
under the age of 20 are more likely to be killed than any other
age group.
The DOE is not doing enough
to remedy this alarming situation: the school system does not
have a uniform policy for addressing domestic violence incidents
or a plan to assist teen victims of relationship abuse.
Caroline C., a seventeen
year old who shared her experience with Gotbaum's office, suffered
three years of abuse at the hands of her boyfriend. She could
not get help at her
school. "When I finally
told my teacher about the abuse, her only response was to tell
me to talk to someone else," she said.
"The Department of Education
is far behind where it needs to be in addressing domestic violence
among young people. The first step in taking responsibility should
be to implement a uniform policy for addressing teen relationship
abuse," said Gotbaum.
According to Gotbaum's
report, the DOE's transfer policy fails to protect victims of
teen relationship abuse. Because there are only limited circumstances
in which violence will lead to a student being transferred to
another school, batterers oftentimes continue attending the same
schools as their victims. In those cases, the burden is on the
victim to obtain a safety transfer to another school, but even
then, there is no guarantee that the safety transfer will be granted
because the student must be able to present a great deal of evidence
demonstrating the danger she is in. A police report is not considered
sufficient.
The report also shows that the DOE systematically fails to provide
students with information on relationship abuse and does not train
teachers and staff to look for signs of abusive relationships
among students. In 1999, the City created the Adopt-A-School/Relationship
Abuse Prevention Program (RAPP), a comprehensive, school-based
program to promote healthy teen relationships and prevent relationship
abuse. RAPP is currently present in only twenty high schools,
however, with ten more to be added, meaning that fewer than one
in ten high schools will participate, even after the expansion.
Gotbaum issued the following
policy recommendations:
- The creation and implementation of a uniform DOE policy for
handling relationship abuse.
- The posting of the City's Domestic Violence Hotline and Youthline
phone numbers in appropriate locations in all secondary schools.
- The inclusion of relationship violence workshops among teacher
certification requirements.
- The creation of a coordinator position in the DOE to combat
dating violence.
Gotbaum's report also focuses
on the failures of the Family Court system to help young people
in abusive relationships. Civil orders of protections are only
granted to family members, current or former spouses, or individuals
in a dating relationship who have a child in common. Gotbaum co-sponsored
a 2004 New York City Council resolution calling on the New York
State Legislature to permit persons in violent dating relationships
to petition the Family Courts for orders of protection. Such a
bill has passed the State Assembly, but is stalled in the State
Senate. Thirty-four states plus the District Columbia allow for
these petitions.
"Break the Cycle New York is pleased to join the Public Advocate
in bringing much-needed attention to New York City 's youth at
risk of or experiencing dating abuse. Our schools are in desperate
need of domestic violence training for teachers and educational
programs for students to guide them in maintaining safe and healthy
relationships." Stephanie Nilva, Director, Break the Cycle New
York .
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