I'm worried that my daughter is in a dangerous dating situation.

As a parent, navigating your child's teen years can be filled with emotionally charged situations that leave you feeling anxious, angry, frustrated and exhausted. When your teen begins dating or is involved in a dating relationship that worries you, there are things you can do--- not only to ease your mind but also to provide your child with information, resources and support in making safe and wise decisions.

First, make sure your teen knows that while you don't have all the answers, you have learned through others and your own experiences some pretty important life lessons. Your perspective as an adult and as a parent adds a critical voice to the messages your teen receives from friends, the media and other influences.

Become informed about the reality of teen dating violence. Dating violence can include emotional, physical and sexual abuse. The latest national estimates show that teens report more than 10% of them have experienced physical dating violence and 28% to 96% report experiencing any type of dating violence. That means chances are pretty good that your teen has either been involved in some type of unhealthy dating behavior or knows someone who has.

Watch your teen for signs of dating violence. Casual references about temper or violent actions are blatant clues. Observations that your teen is withdrawing from family or friends, making dramatic changes in personal appearance, acting fearful or anxious about his or her partner can also be signs of problems. Review guidelines on how to communicate constructively with your teen about this topic.

Finally, support school or community programs that address dating violence among teens. This program, Here's What You Can Do, provides teachers with lessons and activities to guide teens in learning about healthy dating relationships and situations.