SANTA BARBARA - It's an alarming statistic in Santa Barbara County.
One in three teenagers report experiencing abuse in a dating relationship and most will never report the abuse to anyone.
Domestic Violence Solutions is hosting a series of events called "What is Love."
The goal is to raise awareness of teen dating violence and to educate youth about healthy relationships.
Local teens designed posters as part of a contest for the month-long campaign.
The teen who has the winning design will receive $250.
"It really is the best way that I know to really have them understand what this is", says Christy Haynes of Domestic Violence Solutions, "not only what can be amazing about love but what can be ugly about love, in their own voice, in their own words, in their own images."
The organization says dating violence is not just dangerous and sometimes deadly, teens that experience abuse in a dating relationship exhibit higher rates of violence, school drop-out rates, drug abuse, high-risk sexual behavior and suicide.
President Obama has declared February National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.
