February is known as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

The annual, month-long effort focuses on advocacy and education to stop dating abuse before it starts.  “Nearly 21% of female high school students and 13.4% of male high school students are reported to be physically and sexually abused by a dating partner. That’s our national percentage," said Dial Help Communities That Care Coordinator Callisto Cortez.

To read the full story, visit the Upper Michigan Source News site here.