February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, and at HAWC, we’re working with teens to engage in conversations about healthy relationships and encourage them to recognize red flags early. Leading the state in this vital work is Bolanle Ositelu, HAWC’s Primary Prevention Coordinator—and she’s being recognized as TCFV’s 2026 Advocate of the Year!
This recognition couldn’t come at a more critical time. Teen dating violence is a significant issue impacting 1 in 3 teens across the country, with effects on their health and wellbeing that are far-reaching. According to the Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV), one in four women in Texas will experience intimate partner violence, and 70% will experience it for the first time before the age of 25. These formative dating experiences are particularly significant, shaping not just the present but an entire lifetime of relationships.
We can help change these statistics by talking openly to the teens in our lives about healthy versus unhealthy relationships.
Understanding Healthy Relationships: The Green Flags
Understanding what a healthy relationship looks like is the first step toward preventing violence. Here are the essential green flags to share with young people:
- Respect for boundaries is foundational. A healthy partner does not pressure, guilt-trip, or sulk when they hear “no.” Instead, they respect that answer without making you feel bad about it.
- Active listening matters. A healthy partner listens to the boundaries you want to set and respects them. They don’t try to negotiate away your comfort or push you past your limits.
- Independence is healthy. A healthy partner allows you to have your own personal space, time, and privacy to be with friends and family. They don’t isolate you or make you choose between them and the other important people in your life.
- Privacy is valued. A healthy partner does not pressure you to share your passwords or private photos. They understand that trust doesn’t require surveillance.
- Communication is respectful. A healthy partner listens to you without interrupting or mocking. They take your thoughts and feelings seriously, even when they disagree.
- Conflict is handled constructively. A healthy partner can disagree with you without using insults, violence, or threats. Disagreements are normal, but how they’re handled makes all the difference.
Celebrating Champions of Change: Bolanle Ositelu
We’re proud to celebrate Bolanle Ositelu as the 2026 Advocate of the Year Award recipient! As HAWC’s Primary Prevention Coordinator, Bolanle is a trusted adult ally who centers youth voices in efforts to prevent dating violence.
Bolanle’s work is driven by a powerful belief: “It’s about making sure young people, especially girls, know they’re not alone, that abuse is never acceptable, and that communities have a role in protecting one another before violence escalates.”
One of her proudest accomplishments has been supporting two youth advocates in Houston as they developed and delivered a presentation for adults at a statewide event on understanding youth perspectives and meaningfully engaging young people in prevention efforts. This work embodies Bolanle’s commitment to not just talking about youth empowerment but actively creating spaces where young voices lead the way.
“Young people are not just recipients of services when they need help in a relationship, but they are leaders and change-makers that will shape the future of healthy relationships,” Bolanle says.
Her approach recognizes a fundamental truth – lasting change happens when we trust young people as experts in their own experiences. By centering youth voices, Bolanle is helping to build a future where healthy relationships are the norm, not the exception.
Your Role in Prevention
This Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, commit to knowing more and doing more. Talk to the teens in your life. Share the green flags of healthy relationships. Listen to their experiences and concerns. Model respectful relationships in your own life.
Thank you, Bolanle Ositelu, for empowering young voices and building safer communities! Your work reminds us that prevention is possible when we invest in education, awareness, and youth leadership. Together, we can change the statistics and ensure that all Texas teens experience the safe, healthy, respectful relationships they deserve.
Support our work by becoming a Lightkeeper—HAWC’s monthly donors who support our mission and programs like Bolanle’s every single month. Sign up today.