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PG Co. Officials, Churches Fight Teen Dating Abuse

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Oct 12, 2008 4:28 pm US/Eastern

PG Co. Officials, Churches Fight Teen Dating Abuse

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) ― Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey is urging church leaders to help fight teen dating violence.

Ivey spent Sunday visiting churches in Fort Washington and Laurel as part of Project Safe Sunday, a program he's helped coordinate for six years. The goal is to raise awareness about generational problems caused by domestic violence.

Church leaders are asked to speak against domestic abuse and encourage teens to report incidents. The program points to a 2003 survey from the Centers for Disease Control that shows one in 11 high school students has been the victim of dating violence.

The survey also connects teens who have been physically abused by a girlfriend or boyfriend to binge drinking, sexual activity and suicide attempts.

Ivey has worked with 75 local churches to curb such abuse and to provide support. His office says congregations in other parts of the country have expressed interest in replicating the program.

(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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