Teenagers are going to date.  It is a part of human development, and certainly for most people part of adolescent
development when we begin to crave the presence of someone who "gets us."  This idea of true love and being
passionate in a relationship is what adolescent dating is all about.  But dating is being redefined in this age of
technology.  

Teenagers are using social networking to meet and "date" people before ever meeting them face-to-face.  The skills
of "conversing" in chat rooms, on hundreds of texts, and one email at a time are different than those needed when
meeting someone in person.  Adolescents are missing the intricacies of inter-personal communication: the ability to
read nonverbal language, to recognize feelings, and to exhibit the proper etiquette surrounding personal space and
physical comfort.  There is no excuse for dating violence - you can't blame technology - but the life skills needed
have changed.  

MaryAdele has combined two of her passions - educating people on adolescent brain development and preventing
teen dating violence through public awareness - in "Dating Violence and the Developing Adolescent Brain."   
The focus of the workshop is specialized for three different audiences:
Dating Violence and the Developing Adolescent Brain
© Copyright 2010 REVOY                                Last Updated January 26,  2011
MaryAdele's Work as an Advocate and Educator

MaryAdele started her work in the domestic violence
movement at the Waukesha Women's Center (a local
battered women's shelter) in Wisconsin.  She met mothers
who worried that their children were learning that violence
was acceptable, especially their teenage children who were
starting to date.  During her time answering calls on the crisis
line, MaryAdele noticed that the number of adolescents
experiencing dating violence in their own relationships
increased.  This change peaked her interest and led to her
research on emotional and verbal abuse in violent
relationships.  

MaryAdele earned a Master's Degree while she worked at
the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence.  She
then went on to work at the National Resources Center on
Domestic Violence where she coordinated efforts around
October, National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and
prevention programs for teenagers and schools.

MaryAdele has authored and co-authored numerous
curriculums for various audiences on domestic and dating
violence.  She has organized statewide trainings for law
enforcement, community advocates and medical personnel
on the signs of abuse and proper response.  She has had
the opportunity to travel internationally to assist programs in
creating public awareness around these crimes.  

OPPORTUNITY FOR NON-PROFITS!

In this day and age where money is tight and
funding is being cut, this would be a new idea in
fundraising.  You can host these workshops where
a nominal fee for participants can cover any modest
speaker fee.  The remaining profit is yours to keep.

This is a win-win situation.
  • An opportunity to create public awareness
    about adolescent brain development and
    dating violence by reaching different
    audiences.
  • Together there would be lists of possible
    attendees or partners that may be interested.
  • The workload of putting on an event would
    be split.
  • As a non-profit, you have a better chance of
    reserving meeting space for free, thus
    eliminating the cost of the  room which means
    more profit for you.
  • As a professional organization you can host
    a workshop where participants can earn
    continuing education credits - a real benefit
    for your staff and the participants.
Printable Flyer

Presentations  & Publications

Dating Violence and the Developing
Adolescent Brain - Educational Seminar for
Mentors & Tutors.  National Tutor/Mentor
Leadership & Networking Conference.
Adolescent Brain Development and the
Possible Impact of Sexual Assault/Abuse.  
Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior  
Contributor to A Parent’s Guide to Teen Dating
Violence: 10 Questions to Start the
Conversation produced by  Liz
Claiborne/Women’s Work.
Control behaviors exhibited in the Marital
Interactions of Aggressive and Nonaggressive
Husbands. University of WI-Madison.

Curriculum Development & Training Coordination

Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Staff
Training.  Wisconsin Department of Corrections.
Taking It to the Streets…Preventing Domestic
Abuse through Integrated Community Oriented
Policing Strategies. Wisconsin Department of
Justice
Courts & Communities Part II: Coordinated
Community Response (CCR) Team
Development Training.  Wisconsin Department of
Justice
Community Response to Sexual Assault Training
Guide: The Development and Implementation of
Community Specific Sexual Assault Protocols.  
Wisconsin Department of Justice
Coordinated the first state-wide Wisconsin
training for Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
Training of Trainers.  
Community Involvement
Member of the Warden's Committee on
Domestic Violence.  Taycheedah
Correctional Institution (women's
maximum prison) Wisconsin.
Project Coordinator for the National
Education Summit on how school
personnel can respond to and assist
children exposed to domestic violence.
Member of the National Advisory
Committee for Media Matters Institute: A
Strategic Approach to Public Relations for
Domestic Violence Advocates,
sponsored by the Rhode Island Coalition
Against Domestic Violence, Providence
Rhode Island.
Adolescent Brain Blog
Let's chat about how we
can work together to
prevent dating violence.  

Contact MaryAdele to set
up your training!
National Teen Dating
Violence Awareness
Month
February 2011