By: Erin Smith
The Bladen County Board of Commissioners met on Monday night and dealt with a lengthy agenda. Early in the meeting the Board heard a presentation from Families First Inc.’s Ryan Lantrip.
He told the board that last Year Families First had assisted 515 people in Bladen County with obtaining shelter and obtaining domestic violence protective orders. Lantrip told the commissioners that Families First also offers various types of educational programs.
Lantrip said that Families First teaches a program about teen dating violence. The school programs discuss such topics as setting boundaries, how to talk to your partner about your relationship needs and how to set sexual boundaries, anger management, and more.
Lantrip told the commissioners that young men and women tend to lose sight of the fact they do have a choice regarding the relationship.
“What we really strive to do with the is teach teens program how to recognize an abusive relationship, and how to talk with their partner about their relationship,” said Lantrip.
He also told the commissioners that Families First has a sexual assault response team in place that has had great success in Bladen County. Lantrip said the SAR team has helped to increase the number of prosecutions for sexual assault.
Bladen County Commissioner Chairman Russell Priest and Vice-Chairman Arthur Bullcok presented a proclamation to Lantrip proclaiming February Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month in Bladen County.
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