Department of Family Services – Domestic and Sexual Violence Services

CONTACT INFORMATION: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
703-324-5730 TTY 711
12011 Government Center Parkway, Pennino Building, Floor 7, Suite 740
Fairfax, VA 22035
Keesha Coke
Interim Director

Teen Dating Violence

exit website button circle  SAFETY ALERT – If you are in danger, call or text 911.


teen carrying another teen on their backDomestic and Sexual Violence Services supports programs that address teen dating violence (TDV), which is behavior that harms a current or former dating partner. This can include physical, emotional, sexual, financial, and digital harm and can happen between people of any gender or sexuality. It might look like:

  • Beating, hitting, kicking, or shoving you or people or pets you care about
  • Keeping you trapped or not letting you leave a room
  • Going through your phone or social media accounts
  • Stopping you from participating in your hobbies, interests, or extracurriculars 
  • Lying about things you have said or done or telling you things about yourself that are not true
  • Never paying for activities you do together or making you pay for everything
  • Forcing or guilting you into doing sexual things you do not want to do or which make you uncomfortable
  • Putting pressure on your neck or chest to make it hard for you to breathe
  • Misgendering you or calling you by the wrong name or pronouns as if your identity doesn’t matter

Teens who experience dating violence in their relationship(s) may also experience mental and physical health concerns and/or domestic violence in future relationships. However, reaching out for support can help prevent them from becoming long-term effects. 

Blinding Love

Blinding Love is a short film about dating violence created by the teens in Fairfax County’s Teen Advocates program. The Teen Advocates are young leaders committed to preventing dating violence in their communities.

Relationship Range

Relationships exist on a range – from healthy to abusive or a combination of these behaviors. Check out our Relationship Range by rating different scenarios as healthy, unhealthy, or abusive and find out where your own relationship lives. 

teen dating violence relationship range chart for healthy, unhealthy, abusive

Learn more about domestic violence. If you see warning signs that indicate your relationship is abusive, call the Domestic and Sexual Violence 24-Hour Hotline at 703-360-7273 to discuss your situation and explore your options.

All services are confidential, free, and provided regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Fairfax Virtual Assistant