Res. No. 481

Resolution calling on the New York City Human Resources Administration to explore obtaining state, federal and private funds for the Teen Relationship Abuse Prevention Program.

By Council Members Chin and Mendez

Whereas, According to The High School Youth Risk Behavior survey conducted by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10.8% of New York City high school youth reported experiencing sexual dating violence in 2013, an estimated total 35,573 students that year; and 

Whereas, This study reported that 10.5% of  New York City high school youth reported experiencing physical dating violence in 2013 an estimated total of 34,585 students that year; and

Whereas, In 2007, the New York City Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence reported that 16,861 teen calls were received by the City’s Domestic Violence Hotline; and

Whereas, According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), each year in New York City, approximately 4,000 women and 900 men are treated in emergency rooms for intimate partner violence related injuries; and

Whereas, According to the New York City DOHMH, about 40% of women killed in New York City each year are killed by their intimate partners; and

Whereas, Furthermore, women are more likely to be killed by an intimate partner than men; and

Whereas, According to an analysis of the New York City DOHMH’s Injury Surveillance System data from 2000-2007, 160 women between the ages of 15 and 19 visited an emergency room department because of injuries resulting from intimate partner violence; and

Whereas, The Teen Relationship Abuse Prevention Program (Teen RAPP), a school-based domestic violence prevention program, which began in 1999 and is operated by the New York City Human Resource Administration (HRA), has helped teens attending public high schools and middle schools develop healthier relationships; and

Whereas, Teen RAPP currently serves 54 high schools and 8 middle schools; and

Whereas, While funding by New York City HRA for Teen RAPP, has decreased since Fiscal Year (FY) 2010, the number of female students in New York City public schools increased by over 100,000 students from 2010 to 2014; and

Whereas, In FY 2014, 10,700 students participated in workshops and received counseling through Teen RAPP; and 

Whereas, The number of New York City high school students who report having experienced sexual dating violence and physical dating violence exceeds the number of New York City high school students who participated in workshops and received counseling through RAPP in FY14;  and

Whereas, Intimate partner violence is an insidious crime that affects the health of individuals, families and entire communities; and

Whereas, Despite great gains in education and services provided, intimate partner violence continues to shatter the lives of many New York City teenagers; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York City Human Resources Administration to explore obtaining state, federal and private funds for the Teen Relationship Abuse Prevention Program.

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LS# 2952

Date: 11/19/14

Time: 11:59AM

Initials JKS