Prevent Child Abuse Indiana
Warning Signs of Unsafe Dating
- Tells you what you can & cannot say
- Does not like when you spend time with friends
- Makes you account for where you have been & who you have been with
- Calls you all the time
- Hangs out around your home, school, or job for no good reason
- Makes you feel tense and afraid
- Wants you to spend all your free time with him/her
- Plays mind games to trap or trick you into saying or doing what he/she wants
- Puts you down verbally – calls you names, ridicules you, or is highly critical of you
- Discounts your feelings, your words, or your behavior
- Blames you for anything that goes wrong
- Threatens you
- Becomes angry over small things
- Behaves in ways that feel scary, so you change how you act to keep him/her calm
- Does drugs and/or drinks a lot
- Pressures you to do things that are against the law
- Pressures you sexually or has bullied/forced you into having sex
- Shoves, pushes, kicks, slaps or hits you
(Crompton, V.)
Teen Dating Rights
“I have the right to…”
- To be treated with respect
- Not to be abused – physically, emotionally or sexually
- To say NO & be heard
- To express my own opinions
- To private time & my own space
- To have my needs considered as much as my partner’s
- To have friends of my own
- To pursue my own special interests & not to be criticized for pursuing them
- To accept a gift with out having to give anything in return
- To hear about my strengths & assets
- To ask others for help if I need it
- To change my mind – to “fall out of love” & live with no threats
(Sperekas, N.)
Ways to be a Good Friend
- Listen & believe
- Encourage them to tell an adult
- Encourage them to leave
- Help them realize abusive behaviors
- Tell them they deserve better
- Tell an adult yourself
Dating Violence Myths
- It does not affect many people or only occurs among those who hang out in bars, are poor, or are people of color
- It does not occur in gay and lesbian relationships
- Men are never victims
- Victims are free to leave at any time
- Victims are mentally ill
- This type of violence is only a momentary loss of temper
To order or print our Brochure on this topic (or any of our brochure topics), please click HERE.
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PCAIN and The Villages are pleased to announce the promotion of Jeffrey (Jeff) Wittman, MBA to the role of Director of Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, a Division of The Villages.
This promotion is effective as of Monday, January 9, 2023. Jeff has been a member of the PCAIN team for nearly two years as the Prevention Programs Manager and has been effective in supporting the nearly 45 Prevention Councils, statewide. Jeff has a wealth of experience working with youth and communities. Prior to joining the PCAIN team in 2021, he was the School of Social Work and Foster Youth Specialist at the Department of Education, but he has also worked in Family Preservation, Wraparound, Community Support Services, and in Foster Care. Jeff has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, and an MBA in Educational Leadership.
Prevent Child Abuse Indiana is a vital resource to our community and is working diligently to protect and serve the children of our state. Amid the COVID-19 virus, this work is more important now than ever before. This vulnerable time is causing families to become unemployed, leading to lack of resources for food and shelter. We know that vulnerable conditions such as these can lead to increased cases of child abuse, which is why we need your help.
It is possible that small, discreet actions can make a difference in a child’s life. Please join us at this virtual event to see how you can make a difference during Child Abuse Prevention month.
“April is a time to help people across the country understand the safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments are necessary to ensure that children grow up happy and healthy,” says Sandy Runkle, Director of Programs for Prevent Child Abuse Indiana.
Our mission is simple: To be the voice in Indiana for preventing child abuse in all its forms. We practice this mission by raising awareness, serving as a resource for the community, advocating for preventive policies and programs, and fostering a statewide network committed to child abuse prevention. Together with the support of our dedicated volunteers, we’re working to stop child abuse before it begins.
We do not take abuse or neglect reports.
Please contact the
Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at
1-800-800-5556
to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
Please do not contact PCAIN regarding concerns or complaints pertaining to DCS. Indiana has a Bureau of the Ombudsman, and they have “…the authority to receive, investigate and attempt to resolve complaints concerning the actions of the Department of Child Services (DCS) and to make recommendations to improve the child welfare system. The Bureau operates independently of DCS and is housed in the Department of Administration.” Contact information is below.
DCS Ombudsman Information Line
877-682-0101 – Toll Free
317-232-3154 – Fax
DCSOmbudsman@idoa.in.gov
