Vernon Powell and Erica Chavez, both from Touchstone Behavioral Health, proudly display the funds received by the City of Avondale. These funds will implement Touchstone’s Healthy Relationships for Teens Program.
PHOENIX, Ariz. — August 4, 2014 — Touchstone Behavioral Health has received $5,000 from the City of Avondale’s Contribution Assistance Program. Touchstone was one of 25 applicants who applied for the program, through which the City distributed a total of $86,667 for the 2014-2015 fiscal year.
The funds will be used to implement Touchstone’s Healthy Relationships for Teens Program. The program utilizes the Safe Dates curriculum which is the only evidence-based curriculum that prevents dating abuse, a factor often aligned with alcohol and other drug use. The program teaches teenagers to discern between healthy, caring, supportive relationships and controlling, manipulative, abusive relationships. Touchstone will be providing the program to more than 50 youth in Avondale over the next year.
Dating abuse is a serious issue that can touch the life of any teen. According to a study featured in the American Journal of Public Health, the proportion of high school students who have been victims of dating violence ranges from 10% to 38%. Among students who are currently dating, as many as 59% have experienced physical violence and 96% have experience psychological or emotional abuse. Adolescents of all races and economic backgrounds are at risk for being involved in an abusive relationship. Both males and females can be abused and both males and females can be the abusers.
For more information about the Healthy Relationships for Teens Program, call Touchstone Behavioral Health at (623) 930-8705.
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About Touchstone Behavioral Health:
Touchstone Behavioral Health partners with youth and their families to provide evidence-based services and support to help them acquire the skills to live productive and responsible lives.
A member of the Southwest Network, Touchstone serves approximately 2,800 children annually from its four locations: the Timothy Dunst Treatment Center and Ginsberg Clinic, both in Phoenix; the Mesa Clinic; and the Prevention and Intervention Services facility in Glendale. Touchstone also provides services I. Tucson and Mohave County. For more about Touchstone’s programs and services, visit touchstonebh.org.
