In honor of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, Missoula City-County Relationship Violence Services is partnering with the Zootown Arts Community Center in hosting a group art exhibition to educate the community about teen dating violence, healthy relationships and consent.

Healthy Relationships Project Coordinator Kelly McGuire says teen dating violence is common as Teen Dating Violence Month continues through February.

"One in three teens nationally will experience dating violence of some kind or another and so we want to raise awareness of that issue," McGuire said. "How do we teach healthy relationship skills to our youth, and we hope this show will get people thinking about all those things."

McGuire offers some tips for teens and their parents to look out for to determine if there is danger in a dating relationship.

"The partner may be becoming controlling or jealous," she said. "It may not be really obvious, maybe a couple is just spending a lot of time together. And, with texting, it can be even tougher to tell how much is too much. If you see a tone of someone asking 'where are you' or 'what are you doing', that's definitely a red flag."

The Love is Respect Art Show is Friday, February 12 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Zootown Arts Center Mini-Gallery at 235 North 1st Street West in Missoula.

 

More From KMPT-AM