Love is Respect, the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline, headquartered in the Westlake area, is planning an April 10 fashion show and gala at the Austin Country Club to raise awareness of abusive teen dating relationships

February marks the third anniversary of the helpline and its Web site loveisrespect.org, both of which were designed for teens to speak or chat with a peer about their fears and get immediate assistance. During February, the NTDAH will focus on sexting, a process where teens are pressured into taking embarrassing or revealing photos, which are then sent through cell phones.

“It is critical to raise awareness about teen dating violence and to let teens know the red flags of an unhealthy relationship, as well as what healthy relationships should be,” said Sheryl Cates, CEO of the NTDAH. “Hitting, slapping, pushing and controlling behavior, like repeated text messages and telling you what to wear and who to hang out with are signs of danger in a relationship.”

Cates said that dating abuse, especially among teens, is something not normally talked about with friends.

“Loveisrespect.org and the teen chat line are a great tools that give a voice to teens about recognizing the signs of abuse and how to prevent it before it begins,” she said.

NTDAH is a 24-hour resource for teens and young adults experiencing dating abuse. It is specifically designed for that age group, operating around technologies teens use most often – the phone, the Web and chat. Callers can chat anonymously with a trained advocate 24/7 at (866) 331-9474 or TTY (866) 331-8453. Teens and young adults can also chat in a one-on-one, confidential conversation with a peer advocate between 4 p.m. and 2 a.m. at loveisrespect.org.

Austin area high school students will be volunteering their time to raise awareness and funding for the teen helpline through the April gala. Two Westlake High School student service organizations, Girls Engaged in Making a Difference and Guys Exhibiting Needed Traits in Society, will model prom day attire from Dillard’s at the third annual “A Day to Shine” fashion show as part of the April 10 fundraising event.

Teen dating violence became a very public issue in February 2009 when the Rihanna/Chris Brown story garnered the national spotlight. NTDAH representatives said March contacts rose nearly 600 percent after Oprah and “BET’s 106 & Park” ran the helpline number.

“When our contact information is used by the media, the response from teens and those who care about teens is evidence of the prevalence of teen dating abuse in our society,” Cates said.