WHAT IS CONSENT - Website Resource: https://www.rainn.org/articles/what-is-consent
Sexual consent is an agreement to participate in a sexual activity. Before being sexual with someone, you need to know if they want to be sexual with you too. ... Without consent, sexual activity (including oral sex, genital touching, and vaginal or anal penetration) is sexual assault or rape.
According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey Report:
• 1 in 5 females and 1 in 7 males who ever experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner, first experienced some form of intimate partner violence between 11 and 17 years of age.
• More than half of all rapes of females occur before age 18; 22% occur before the age of 12.
• Adolescent girls who experience dating violence are more likely to exhibit other serious behaviors such as substance abuse, increased suicide attempts, unhealthy weight control, and risky sexual behavior.
The age of sexual consent in Maine is 16 years old. Consent Definitions and Policy in Maine, and Laws PPT
Individuals aged 15 or younger in Maine are not legally able to consent to sexual activity, and such activity may result in prosecution for statutory rape.
Maine statutory rape law is violated when a person has consensual sexual intercourse with an individual under age 16 who is not their spouse. However, Maine does have a “Romeo & Juliet” law that only applies to sexual activity with 14 or 15-year-olds.
TASK: Watch the "Tea is Consent" video. This short video shows how simple it is to understand the dynamics of consent in a relationship.
One Love is another great resource for information about love and relationships.
TASK: Let's Take a look at this video about healthy and unhealthy behaviors. https://vimeo.com/398516251
Healthy relationships can bring out the best in you and make you feel good about yourself. A healthy relationship does not mean a “perfect” relationship, and no one is healthy 100% of the time, but the signs in this graphic are behaviors you can strive for in all of your relationships.
Here are some characteristics and behaviors of a healthy relationship.
Spotting unhealthy relationship behavior can be difficult. Learn what the warning signs look like in these short videos.
Picture perfect posts can also hide what may actually be occurring in a relationship . These 10 short films tell the real story behind social media posts that seem loving on the surface but disguise an unhealthy behavior.
Abuse is about power and control. The power and control wheel (to the left) depicts the many different ways in which power can be abused in a relationship. All of these behaviors may occur in both heterosexual and LBBTQ relationships. For LGBTQ there are cultural and societal forces that present additional power and control behaviors.
What are my Boundaries? Love is Respect is a great resource for relationship info. Take a look at their boundaries page!
There are lots of different types of boundaries, including emotional, physical, and digital. Just like with consent, boundaries can change over time. In a healthy partnership, boundaries are clearly communicated and respected.
TASK: Watch "The Line" . This 45-second video from Love Is Respect depicts the thin line between cute and creepy, caring and controlling, loving and abusive.
Available 24/7/365
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If you’re in an abusive relationship, or you love someone who is, it’s totally understandable to feel overwhelmed or scared. It can be particularly daunting to know that the support networks you may rely on during normal times — such as going to a friend’s house or even going to the guidance counselor — may be more difficult to access now.
But you are not alone. Even while socially distanced, your loved ones can continue to offer you support, and advocates are available to help you during this time.
https://www.joinonelove.org/learn/relationship-abuse-during-quarantine-five-places-to-find-help/
Help for your parent
Greely Guidance Counselors and Social Workers are here to answer questions and provide support.
Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine http://www.sarsonline.org/
It's Your Sex Life STIs, Consent, & Healthy Relationships http://www.itsyoursexlife.com/
Young Adult Abuse Prevention Program http://www.familycrisis.org/yaapp.html
Roughly 1.5 million high school boys and girls in the U.S. admit to being intentionally hit or physically harmed in the last year by someone they are romantically involved with.[1]
Teens who suffer dating abuse are subject to long-term consequences like alcoholism, eating disorders, promiscuity, thoughts of suicide, and violent behavior.[2]
1 in 3 young people will be in an abusive or unhealthy relationship. [3]
33% of adolescents in America are victim to sexual, physical, verbal, or emotional dating abuse.[4]
In the U.S., 25% of high school girls have been abused physically or sexually. Teen girls who are abused this way are 6 times more likely to become pregnant or contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI).[5]
Females between the ages of 16 and 24 are roughly 3 times more likely than the rest of the population to be abused by an intimate partner.[6]
8 States in the U.S. do not consider a violent dating relationship domestic abuse. Therefore, adolescents, teens, and 20-somethings are unable to apply for a restraining order for protection from the abuser.[7]
Violent behavior often begins between 6th and 12th grade. 72% of 13 and 14-year-olds are “dating.”[8]
50% of young people who experience rape or physical or sexual abuse will attempt to commit suicide.[9]
Only 1/3 of the teens who were involved in an abusive relationship confided in someone about the violence.[10]
Teens who have been abused hesitate to seek help because they do not want to expose themselves or are unaware of the laws surrounding domestic violence.[11]
Black MC, Basile KC, Breiding MJ, Smith SG, Walters ML, Merrick MT, Chen J, Stevens MR. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011.
Sexual assault response service of southern Maine
Youth online - Maine
Teen Support text line - NAMI
https://www.joinonelove.org/learn/relationship-abuse-during-quarantine-five-places-to-find-help/
Help for your parent
Greely Guidance Counselors and Social Workers are here to answer questions and provide support.
Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine http://www.sarsonline.org/
It's Your Sex Life STIs, Consent, & Healthy Relationships http://www.itsyoursexlife.com/
Young Adult Abuse Prevention Program http://www.familycrisis.org/yaapp.html