Close to Home youth network

The Close to Home youth network is a group of local high school-aged volunteer organizers who are committed to raising awareness about domestic violence with their peers in the youth community. Specifically, the Youth Team understands the impact that teen dating violence has on the lives of their peers and friends.  Members have dedicated themselves to addressing this issue extensively: what teen dating violence is, how to recognize it, how to stay safe from it, and what local resources exist to help those hurting in their relationships.

Teen dating violence is of particular importance to the Youth Team because they and many of their peers have limited experience with or are entering intimate, dating relationships for the first time.  With limited experience or knowledge, teens may have misconceptions about what is acceptable or not in a relationship, and what love and respect look like.  These misconceptions, unfortunately, may oftentimes lead to abuse, hurt, and violence in these young relationships.  If the violence and hurt in these relationships remain unaddressed, teens may later go on to have adult relationships that could also be filled with abuse and hurt.  Because of that, it is particularly important to start raising awareness and educating youth on what dating violence is and how to stay safe from it. As youth organizers, these volunteer youth devote hours of their time every week to implementing a variety of different projects aimed at increasing awareness and safety. The Youth Team’s work is a central and vital piece of Close to Home’s in the mission to engage all levels of community members to prevent domestic violence.

HOW WE GOT STARTED
The Close to Home Youth Team began in December of 2004 when the first youth volunteer walked through the doors of Close to Home.  Looking for a place to volunteer and do some community service, this first youth organizer stayed with Close to Home because he witnessed first hand teen dating violence in the lives of his friends and on the school campus, and saw the hurt and damage that it caused to people, and wanted to be part of the effort to reach out to others and help prevent teen dating violence.  Building on the momentum of successful projects and growing interest from other youth in the community, the Close to Home Youth Team is 17 members strong.

OUR GOALS
The Close to Home Youth Team focuses on organizing their peers and the local community around taking part in the effort to prevent dating and domestic violence. Youth Team members do this by creating projects (such as trainings and community events) designed to reach out to other youth and motivate them around the issue.  All Youth Team projects are designed by youth for youth by having Youth Team members take the lead on informing what their project looks like and how they will implement it.  We hope you will consider joining us in our work!