Rihanna & Chris Brown incident incites action

A recent news item has brought new energy to the teen dating violence awareness movement:

Just a few days after Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week, an altercation between teen celebrities Rihanna , 20, and Chris Brown, 19, splashed across the headlines.

In many towns and cities across the country this news was followed by articles revealing teen dating abuse in local high schools and ways to address the epidemic.  From Washington, D.C. to Oakland, CA, and from upstate New York to rural Arkansas, awareness efforts -- often spearheaded by teens -- are experiencing renewed energy and press attention.  The incident even has MTV paying attention to the issue. The bastion of youth culture now has an article posted on their website advising teen victims how to get help.