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Teens, parents and school officials in Ada, Canyon and 16 other southern Idaho counties will have a chance to learn how to deal with teen violence and "sexting" -- sending text messages with nude or semi-nude photos attached.
Idaho gets $1 million for the "Start Strong Idaho" project, which is one of 11 funded by the non-profit Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The problem is growing in Idaho and nationwide, according to a news release. The 2007 Idaho Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 13 percent of Idaho high school students were hit, slapped, or physically hurt by their boyfriend or girlfriend during the previous 12 months, while 11 percent were forced to have unwanted sex.
Recent surveys also report that one in five teens participate in "sexting."
Start Strong Idaho is a collaborative effort of the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence, St. Luke's Children's Hospital, the Idaho Department of Education and other youth and health care organizations.
A new Web site, www.startstrongidaho.com, has more information. The initiative will be launched at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Riverglen Junior High School, 6801 N. Gary Lane, Boise.
Expected to attend the launch: Tom Luna, Idaho superintendent of schools; Dr. Jerry Hirschfeld, administrator of St. Luke's Children's Hospital; Kelly Miller, project director, Start Strong Idaho and Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence; and Laura Hampikanian, Start Strong Idaho Teen Advisory Council member.
Here are the 18 counties involved: Adams, Washington, Valley, Payette, Gem, Canyon, Ada, Boise, Owyhee, Elmore, Camas, Blaine, Gooding, Lincoln, Minidoka, Jerome, Twin Falls and Cassia.
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