Breaking the Silence: Understanding and Preventing Teen Dating Violence

February 17, 2023
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February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, a reminder that dating violence is a serious issue among teenagers. Sadly, 1 in 3 U.S. teens (ages 12-18) will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they're in a relationship with before becoming adults. 1


Physical violence, sexual assault, stalking, verbal misuse, and emotional abuse are dating violence indicators. These behaviors can happen in any relationship and to anyone, regardless of age, gender, or popularity. Recognizing the warning signs, such as controlling behavior, excessive jealousy, violent tendencies, emotional immaturity, and isolation from friends and family, is crucial to leaving a relationship.


Dating violence takes three primary forms: physical, psychological/emotional, and financial abuse.
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Physical Abuse includes:

  • Physical violence or restraint directed at you.
  • Destroying your possessions.
  • Hitting walls, doors, or vehicles.
  • Sexual assault.
  • Physical abuse can sometimes be the most apparent form of dating violence but also the most intimidating. Speaking up can be scary, but holding on to that fear can give the abuser the control they seek.


Psychological and Emotional Abuse usually comes in two forms: making threats and eroding your self-worth.

This kind of abuse can look like this:

  • Publicly embarrassing or humiliating you.
  • Withholding affection.
  • Insulting, putting you down, or ignoring you.
  • Isolating you from your friends and family.


These types of abuse can be more subtle and challenging to recognize. The abuser uses your desire to please and fear of losing the relationship to manipulate you.


Financial Abuse can be a range of behaviors, including:

  • Stealing from you.
  • Using your personal items for themselves.
  • Forcing you to stop working. 


The abuser's goal is to ensure you have no resources to leave them or manage your behavior by forcing you to depend on them.


It's important to remember that you have the right to be in a safe and healthy relationship and never have to feel ashamed or responsible for the abuse you are experiencing. Don't stay silent if you or someone you know is experiencing dating violence. Reach out for help. Local support can be found at the
Safe Center and the Family Advocacy Network in Kearney and Willow Rising in Grand Island. 



Collage believes in the importance of developing healthy relationships. So let's work together to break the dating violence cycle. Join the movement and use your voice to raise awareness about teen dating violence.

September 30, 2026
If you took the first abortion pill, it’s possible to start wishing you hadn’t. The regret may have hit you immediately, or it might have taken a few hours to realize that you want to continue the pregnancy. Either way, there may still be something you can do: abortion pill reversal (APR) may be an option. The first drug used in the abortion pill regimen is usually mifepristone. If you have taken mifepristone but now want to continue your pregnancy, call the Abortion Pill Reversal Network at 1-877-558-0333 right away. Their Helpline is available 24/7 and can connect you with a medical provider who can administer APR. If You Have Only Taken the First Pill Mifepristone works by blocking progesterone. Progesterone helps maintain the lining of the uterus during pregnancy. When this hormone is blocked, the uterine lining thins, and the pregnancy ends. The second drug in the abortion pill regimen is misoprostol , which causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy. Abortion pill reversal involves giving progesterone after mifepristone in an effort to allow the pregnancy to continue. Don’t Wait for Symptoms Before Calling You may wonder whether you should wait before deciding what to do. But if you want to try to continue the pregnancy, call first.  It’s critical to start the protocol as soon as possible, ideally within 24 to 48 hours of taking mifepristone. However, you should still call even when more time has passed; it may not be too late. A medical provider can determine whether APR may still be appropriate. Does Reversal Always Work? Abortion pill reversal cannot guarantee that the pregnancy will continue. One published study reported ongoing pregnancy rates of approximately 64% to 68% with certain progesterone regimens, but individual outcomes vary. The important thing is to get medical guidance quickly rather than trying to determine your chances on your own. What if You Already Took Misoprostol? If you have already taken misoprostol, contact a healthcare professional promptly and explain exactly what you took and when. You should also seek immediate medical attention if you develop symptoms that concern you or believe you may be experiencing a medical emergency. Make the Call Now Changing your mind after taking mifepristone can be frightening, especially when you’re unsure whether there is still time to act. You don’t need to figure that out yourself. Call the Abortion Pill Reversal Network at 1-877-558-0333 as soon as possible and tell them when you took mifepristone. They can explain whether abortion pill reversal may still be an option and connect you with an appropriate provider. You can also contact Collage if you need someone to speak with while you work through your next steps. We’re here to help you. *Collage does not provide or refer for abortions; however, we do offer pre-abortion screening through our no-cost services. **All abortion information in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
September 7, 2026
Seeing another positive pregnancy test after having had a past abortion may bring up memories or emotions from that experience. If you already know you don’t want another abortion, you may be wondering what other choices you have and whether either feels realistic for your life right now. You have time to learn about your options and the available support. Collage is here to give you a place to discuss your circumstances so you can decide what’s right for you. Schedule a no-cost appointment today to learn more about your pregnancy and what your next steps could look like. And read on to learn more about your pregnancy options besides abortion. Consider What Parenting Would Require You may want to parent but have concerns about whether you can make it work. Finances, housing, childcare, your relationship, work, or school can all influence how possible this option feels right now. Before deciding that those challenges make parenting unrealistic, it can help to identify your biggest concerns individually. Some of those concerns may have solutions you haven’t considered yet. Think about the support you already have, along with what you would need during pregnancy and after your baby arrives. Knowing where the gaps are can make it easier to find resources rather than trying to solve everything at once. Learn More About Adoption If you don’t want another abortion but aren’t ready to parent, adoption is another option. Today, a woman making an adoption plan can have a significant role in deciding what that plan looks like. Depending on the type of adoption, you may be able to choose an adoptive family and decide what level of contact you would like after placement. Open, semi-open, and closed adoption offer different levels of communication and privacy. Speaking with a licensed adoption professional can help you understand these differences, your rights, and what the process would involve before you make any commitments. Discuss Your Options in a Confidential Space Having had an abortion before does not mean you have to make the same pregnancy decision again. Your feelings, circumstances, priorities, or perspective may be different this time. If you know you don’t want another abortion, start by learning what parenting and adoption could realistically look like in your current situation. Collage provides a place to talk about your pregnancy and the concerns influencing your decision. We can also connect you with adoption agencies and community organizations that provide the support you’re seeking. Reaching out doesn’t lock you into a specific decision. Schedule a no-cost appointment with Collage today to get your questions answered and explore the options available to you. Collage does not provide or refer for abortions; however, we do offer pre-abortion screening through our no-cost services.
August 11, 2026
If your girlfriend is facing an unexpected pregnancy and considering the abortion pill, you're probably wondering about costs and whether insurance will cover it.
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