Tuesday, February 3, 2026 |
Photo – Teen Dating poster – Courtesy RPD Victim Assistance Program
The Rawlins Police Department’s Victim Assistance Program is offering free healthy teen‑dating classes at the Carbon County Higher Education Center.
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. To support the effort, the Rawlins Police Department’s Victim Assistance Program is offering two free informational classes tomorrow, February 4th, and again next Wednesday, February 11th. Victim Assistance Coordinator Rachel Berger explained that the classes will give parents and teens the tools to recognize and prevent dating violence.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, roughly one in 12 teens experience physical dating violence, with high‑school students at even greater risk. Victim Assistance Coordinator Berger said most victims never report the abuse.
Berger said dating violence isn’t always physical. The victim assistance coordinator outlined several behaviors that may indicate someone is experiencing psychological or emotional dating abuse.
Teenagers aren’t always comfortable opening up to friends or family about what they’re dealing with. Berger said the Teen Dating and Healthy Relationships presentations will give parents an opportunity to start an open dialogue with their children about the dangers of dating violence.
The classes are split into two groups, with tomorrow’s presentation geared toward high‑school‑aged kids and next week’s session aimed at middle‑school‑aged teens. Victim Assistance Coordinator Berger said the classes are similar, but with minor variations tailored for each age group.
Berger encouraged all parents and teens to attend one of the two Teen Dating and Healthy Relationships classes. The victim assistance coordinator said information shared during the presentations will benefit everyone, not just those concerned about abuse.
The Teen Dating and Healthy Relationships presentations will be held at the Carbon County Higher Education Center, located at 1650 Harshman Street in Rawlins. Tomorrow’s session is designed for high‑school‑aged kids, and the February 11th presentation is for middle‑school‑aged teens. A parent or guardian must attend with their child. Call the Higher Education center at 328-9274 to request a virtual meeting link if you are unable to attend in person.
For more information about the presentations or teen dating violence in general, call the Rawlins Police Department’s Victim Assistance Program at 328-4530.
