February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, and young people often find it hard to navigate experiences of harm. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2021, nearly 16% of Idaho youth surveyed said they had experienced sexual violence, higher than the national average of 11%. D Dagondon Tiegs, bilingual social change associate for the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, said sexual violence is the result of imbalances in power. .
As Kentuckians prepare for the Super Bowl this weekend, they can also help survivors of domestic violence. At "Shop and Share," a one-day event this Saturday at Kroger, Food City and other regional grocers statewide, residents can shop for what they need and share a purchased item with their local domestic violence shelter. Angela Yannelli, chief executive officer of ZeroV, explained while the primary focus is on safety, the group s 15 member domestic violence programs also promote survivor empowerment. .
January is Stalking Awareness Month and advocates said cases of unwanted or repeated surveillance or contact, often alongside intimidation and harassment often go underreported, especially in Ohio s rural counties. Shelby Lieber, survivor coordinator for the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, said according to the state s incident-based reporting system, agencies reported more than 1,500 cases of stalking related to 8,000 sexual assault incidents last year. Lieber pointed out the complexities around stalking can make reporting incidents to law enforcement difficult. .