Chicago Area Students And Educators Learn How To Prevent Relationship Abuse

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and Loveisrespect Partner To Get Young People To "Start Talking" About Healthy Relationships

WHAT: Sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinoisand provided by the experts at loveisrespect, Start Talking is an educational campaign that teaches young people how to recognize dating abuse and have healthy relationships.

As part of the campaign, 30 youth organizations are participating in Start Talking Institutes in which they will receive intensive training on the innovative Start Talking curriculum, learn from loveisrespect experts and youth leaders and challenge each other to see who will become the ultimate advocate for preventing abuse.

WHO: Each selected youth organization will send one educator/program leader, two peer leaders and a parent to attend this exclusive, all expenses paid, training on how to implement the Start Talking curriculum and become the next generation of anti-violence advocates. Participating organizations include Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling, Inc., Wethersfield High School, Chicago Vocational Career Academy, St. Benedict Prep School, National Hook-Up of Black Women, Inc., Lifetime Connections, True Eagle Beauty Foundation, Inc., SPC Educational Solutions, and Between Friends. 

WHEN: Saturday, November 2, 2013 at 8:00 a.m.

WHERE: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois    
300 E. Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601-5099

VISUALS: Interviews with student and adult participants, violence prevention expert, photos of sessions in action

LEARN MORE: Contact Director of Loveisrespect Cristina Escobar at 512.685.6327 or [email protected] or visit
http://www.loveisrespect.org/starttalking.  Media is invited to the event.

About Loveisrepsect
Loveisrespect is the ultimate source of support for young people to avoid abuse and build healthy relationships – combining 24/7 help via chat, text and phone with a proven effective website and on-the-ground youth organizing. For more information, please visit www.loveisrespect.org/starttalking

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL)
With 7.6 million members, BCBSIL, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, is the largest health insurance company in Illinois. It is not a publicly-traded company, but is member-owned. Begun in 1936 in Chicago, BCBSIL is committed to promoting the health and wellness of its members and the communities it serves through accessible, cost-effective, quality health care. BCBSIL is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Contact: Lilyanna Fragoso[email protected], 312.465.9387

/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- Oct. 31, 2013/

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois