Teens against Assault Violence and Abuse (TAVA)

TAVA is CAFY sponsored project. It is a teen focused, teen facilitated advocate group whose mission is to raise awareness about youth victimization and violence.

In 2006 CAFY was selected by the National Crime Prevention Council's Youth Organization of Victim Assistance as one of 32 sites across the nation to establish a teen victimization campaign. CAFY's leadership along with nine teens took on the challenge and created TAVA in September 2006.

This was an easy decision since CAFY has identified intimate violence in over 60% of teen cases they service. To impact that national statistic — that youth, ages 13-18, account for the highest percentage of victims in our county and across the nation — TAVA teens have focused on conducting outreaches to educate teens about:

TAVA has held Fashion Shows, Basketball Tournaments all in an attempt to get the word in a message acceptable to teens. TAVA's goal in line with CAFY's to educate, empower and embrace the teen population with the support of adults to change the message, the legacy and the volumes of teens being affected by teen violence and victimization. Every 2nd and 4th Friday, TAVA is at the Bowie Gymnasium holding teen "Rap" sessions and workshops to get the word out that teen can "GET OUT, RELEASE, GET LIFTED" from the stronghold of violence. For more information call CAFY 301-390-4092 or encourage another teen 'to come out.