Seminar focuses on understanding family violence

Family violence affects nearly one-third of all women. Children in abusive families witness violence 70 to 85 percent of the time. Teens in dating relationships and even senior citizens are vulnerable to family violence. In fact, family violence can affect families across the life span.

According to recent statistics anywhere from 20 to 96 percent of teens are affected by dating violence.

Sometimes the choices teens make are experimenting with relationships; alcohol or drugs can dramatically increase their risk for violence.

Understanding the dynamics and consequences of family violence can help you know how to support people affected by the problem. The University of Illinois Extension seminar, "Family Violence: Broken Hearts, Broken Promises - A Focus Across the Life span" will inform participants about the complex nature of family violence. The seminar explores the dynamics of intimate partner violence and how that violence affects children, teen dating violence and elder abuse.

Betty Lou Barsley Marra, University of Illinois Extension family life educator, will conduct the seminar at 10 a.m. Monday, March 2 at Kane County Extension office, 535 S. Randall Road, St. Charles.

The seminar is provided free, but advance registration is needed by Monday, Feb. 23. To register, call U of I Extension in Kane County, (630) 584-6166, or e-mail your name and phone number to kane_co@extension.uiuc.edu. If you need disability accommodations to participate in this program, please indicate when registering.