“Jennifer” came to our Teen Center when she was a sophomore in high school. Conflicts with her boyfriend had escalated to a point where she felt unsafe. When she ended their relationship, Jennifer’s ex-boyfriend harassed her through text messages and phone calls, and he became increasingly violent.
She sought safe haven with us. It was during a group discussion about Teen Dating Violence at the center that Jennifer realized the gravity of her situation and opened up to our staff. Staff immediately contacted police and helped Jennifer get a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend. Our staff also ensured that Jennifer received counseling so that she could recover from trauma and work towards rebuilding her self-esteem. Jennifer attends our Teen Center to this day.
Jennifer says that she feels safe. “I know the staff cares about me, and I love seeing my friends here.”