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National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center
A Federal resource for professionals, parents and youth working to prevent violence committed by and against young people.
- Treat physical injuries and sexual assault compassionately and thoroughly.
- Speak with adolescent privately, taking an accurate history.
- Communicate support and belief to the patient, using phrases such as, "I'm
sorry this happened," and "This violence is not your fault."
- Because many adolescents, both girls and boys, accept physical and sexual
aggression as normal in dating relationships, it is important to talk with
the patient about the types of behavior they expect in intimate relationships
and to present an alternative perspective.
- Help your patient assess the danger, asking: "Do you feel safe?"
Assess changes in the severity and frequency of the violence; weapons used
or available; threats to kill; forced or threatened sexual acts; separation
or break-up; drug or alcohol abuse; and history of suicide attempts.
- Help the patient to plan for safety and to get needed support. Offer information
about legal resources, such as restraining orders, mandatory arrest, the police,
and calling 911. Also provide information about community services, such as
youth services, support groups, and legal advocacy. Encourage the patient
to develop a specific safety plan. Useful questions might include:
- "What steps can you take in the future to keep yourself safe? "
- "Some young people choose to date with a group of friends they trust.
Would that be an option?"
- "If someone hurt you again, where could you go in an emergency? How would
you get there?
- Schedule a follow-up appointment and try to assess any barriers, asking:
- "Will you be able to get transportation?"
- "Will anyone try to prevent you from returning?"
- Make a referral, if necessary, to a medical or mental health specialist.
- Comply with any legal reporting mandates.
- Document the violence, noting what the patient said, what behaviors and
injuries you observed, your assessment of potential dating violence, and describe
any safety planning, mandatory reporting, and follow-up plans.
- Hamberger, L.K. & Ambuel, B. (1998). Dating Violence. Pediatric
Clinics of North American, 45, 381-390.
