Crapo To Kick Off National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week

Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will join an Eagle High School teen, the U.S. Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, Education, the American Bar Association and multiple child advocacy and domestic violence organizations to kick-off National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week at Woodrow Wilson Senior High School in Washington, D.C., on Monday, February 6 at 10:15 a.m. Crapo has led a bipartisan effort in the Senate to bring national attention to teen dating violence."I am pleased to be part of this teen-based effort to raise awareness about the crime of teen dating violence," said Crapo. "Many Idahoans remember the tragic death of a young woman in Idaho in 1999 who was a victim of teen dating violence. I'm glad to say that we've come a long way toward addressing the crime of dating violence since then, including state and national laws which define dating violence as a form of domestic violence, and most recently a statewide summit in Boise in November on the subject of teen dating violence. The most important and effective way to address this issue is through the teens themselves. I'm proud of the teens at Eagle High School and their terrific and professional efforts to develop Public Service Announcements, one of which we will air at the news conference. I look forward to contributing to the effort to raise awareness of this crime. It's time to stop the cycle of children hurting children." Crapo became involved with the American Bar Association's (ABA) Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Initiative last year, an effort led by teens nationwide to develop awareness toolkits. The toolkits provide resources for teachers, administrators, students, parents and law enforcement to raise awareness about this often-ignored problem-a crime that effects one out of three teens. Crapo sponsored a bipartisan Senate resolution declaring the week of February 6 - 10, 2006 National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week, with the support of many governors, including Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne. The toolkits are now in high schools in every state and territory, including fifteen Idaho high schools. Crapo's website has a page dedicated to this initiative with links and information about teen dating violence awareness and prevention efforts across the nation at http://crapo.senate.gov. The high schools in Idaho who received toolkits are: Boise High School1010 Washington StreetBoise, ID 83702Borah High School 6001 CassiaBoise, ID 83709 Eagle High School 574 N. Park Ln.Eagle, ID 83616 Sky View High School1303 E. GreenhurstNampa, ID 83686 Lake City High School6101 N Ramsey Road Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815 American Falls High School2966 S. Frontage Rd.American Falls, ID 83211 Kamiah High School711 Ninth St.Kamiah, ID 83536 Valleyvue High School1407 Homedale RoadCaldwell, ID 83607 Murtaugh High School500 W. Boyd St.Murtaugh, ID 83344 Moscow High School402 E 5th St.Moscow, ID 83843 Idaho Falls High School601 S. HomesIdaho Falls, ID 83401 Troy Jr/Sr High School337 Big Meadow RoadTroy, ID 83871 Meridian High School1900 W. Pine Ave.Meridian, ID 83642