Green Bay Press Gazette Post

Green Bay Press Gazette 11:00 PM, Mar. 15, 2011

Written by

Deborah Skowronski
Reader Submitted

February was Teen Dating Violence Prevention Month and the next episode of Teen Connection extends this period of heightened awareness. On the next television broadcast of Teen Connection, a panel of young people and adult experts will discuss how to identify and prevent unhealthy relationships among teens.

Teen Connection "Dating Violence" airs statewide at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 22 on Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) and on MPTV in Milwaukee.

Abby Ellison, teen advocate at Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services Inc. serving Winnebago and Green Lake Counties, will describe the perils of teen dating violence and will explain how to identify, discuss and prevent unhealthy relationships using personal testimony from a panel of teens - bringing to light real world examples of teen dating violence. Ellison will discuss the warning signs commonly associated with unhealthy relationships and will teach teens how they can support friends who may be victims of dating violence.

Tana Koss, program manager at the Crisis Center of Family Services, will appear on the program to discuss how the Crisis Center can provide immediate assistance to anyone feeling threatened by a dating partner. The Crisis Center provides short-term counseling for people of all ages in Brown, Shawano and Sheboygan Counties. Koss says approximately 5,000 youth called in and received help from the center last year and adds that the Crisis Center offers support in an anonymous setting for teens that may feel stigmatized by talking with friends or family.

Stacy Lewis of Golden House, a domestic abuse resource for men, women and children, will join the program to identify the five types of abuse and will explain the initial stages of abuse that are common precursors to serious physical and emotional harm.

The program also will feature interviews with Menasha High School students who are members of Believe It or Not I Care (BIONICs), a program in which teens help their peers with personal and family challenges.

Teen Connection is co-produced by NEWIST/CESA 7, Educational TV Productions of Northeast Wisconsin (ETP-NEW) and WPT. Host Kathryn Bracho appears courtesy of WBAY-Channel 2 in Green Bay.

The live program features a call-in option at 877-988-2888. It is a toll-free call.

The service will be provided courtesy of Nsight Teleservices. For more resources, check wpt.org/teenconnection.

New this season, viewers can also text in their questions to 920-288-2810. Standard text message rates apply

Joel Waldinger of WPT is the executive producer of Teen Connection. Dean Thomas of Educational Television Productions of Northeastern Wisconsin and Eileen Littig, NEWIST/CESA #7 are co-producers.

WPT is a service of the Educational Communications Board and University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Wisconsin Public Television is a place to grow through learning on WHA-TV, Madison; WPNE-TV, Green Bay; WHRM-TV, Wausau; WLEF-TV, Park Falls; WHLA-TV, La Crosse; and WHWC-TV, Menomonie-Eau Claire.