CHICAGO, Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), the nation's largest customer-owned health insurer, and Loveisrespect, the ultimate source of support for young people to prevent and end dating abuse, announce an initiative to educate one million teens on teen dating abuse and prevention.

HCSC, operator of Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, and Loveisrespect's new collaboration will reduce the growing epidemic of teen dating violence with tailored, on-the-ground outreach and awareness programs that will better equip our schools, families and communities with the information and resources needed to respond to this issue. According to multiple studies, one in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence and nearly 1.5 million high school students experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year.

Through this alliance, communities in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas will learn to identify the warning signs and better respond to teen dating violence through the creation of school-based initiatives such as "Loveisrespect Institutes." As many as 1,000 free toolkits, the largest single distribution of its kind, will be sent out and will include a curriculum which leverages technology to provide teachers with web-based activities and methods for creating a supportive community.

"As a result of HCSC's support, our innovative service-learning programs will help young people develop healthy definitions of positive relationships. We're creating, conducting, evaluating and distributing a comprehensive dating abuse prevention program that will lead to measurable successes," said Cristina Escobar, director of Loveisrespect.

"We are honored to have an opportunity to team with other organizations who share our commitment to creating pathways for teenagers, their families and friends to build relationships of warmth, mutual respect and love," said Conway McDanald, chief medical officer, behavioral health, HCSC. "In our initative with Loveisrespect, we have tailored the program to our states to spread awareness and provide support to prevent teen dating violence and abuse. The collective impact creates a safe space for teens to talk about things that may be difficult and helps them decide when and where they want to do it, at any time, using any mode of communication they choose."

This program is in conjunction with Healthy Kids, Healthy Families (HKHF), a three-year initiative with a goal of improving the health and wellness of at least one million children in four states, Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

The HKHF initiative invests in and partners with nonprofit organizations that offer sustainable, measurable programs to reach children and their families in four pillar categories including supporting safe environments, nutrition education, physical activity, and disease prevention and management. Overall, the Healthy Kids, Healthy Families initiative reflects HCSC's commitment to make a meaningful difference across all of the areas we serve. Within the first year, the HKHF initiative granted more than $6 million to more than 90 community partners across the four states it serves. Currently in the second year of the initiative, funding decisions and new partnerships are being identified across our four states. Additional "Healthy Kids, Healthy Families" pillar partners include:

About Health Care Service Corporation Health Care Service Corporation is the country's largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall, with more than 13 million members in its Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. A Mutual Legal Reserve Company, HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, please visit http://www.HCSC.com, visit our Facebook page or follow us at http://www.twitter.com/HCSC.

About Healthy Kids, Healthy Families Healthy Kids, Healthy Families is a three-year initiative designed to improve the health and wellness of at least one million children through community investments by Health Care Service Corporation and its Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The initiative will invest in and partner with nonprofit organizations that offer sustainable, measurable programs to reach children and their families in areas of nutrition education, physical activity, disease prevention and management, and supporting safe environments. To learn more about Health Kids, Healthy Families, please visit http://www.healthykidshealthyfamiles.org.

About Loveisrespect Loveisrespect helps teens and young adults, ages 13-24 navigate the spectrum of healthy relationship behaviors. From the program, young people learn there are options, answers and support available to them every hour of every day. Forming the national partnership to end dating abuse, Break the Cycle and the National Dating Abuse Helpline designed the new loveisrespect specifically for young people, emphasizing confidentiality and trust to ensure teens and 20-somethings nationwide feel safe and supported online and off. Find out more at http://www.loveisrespect.org.

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Health Care Service Corporation And Loveisrespect Announce Initiative To Educate One Million Teens On Teen Dating ...