President Obama has proclaimed February 2013 National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.1 This proclamation is the latest in a series of efforts by the Administration to create safer communities for young women by raising public awareness of gender-based violence, educating communities about how violence affects women and youths, and encouraging new efforts to prevent and respond to violence. At the same time, we recognize that gender-based violence affects boys and girls of all ages (from every socioeconomic group, race, religion, and sexual orientation; in all regions of the country; and in schools of every type), and its consequences can be significant for victims and their communities. As educators and administrators, you play an important role in protecting your students from victimization and its long-lasting effects on health and life outcomes. I want to inform you of the Department's recent efforts to support you and your school communities in preventing teen dating violence and other forms of gender-based violence.
