Dashia Abrams had big dreams. The 19-year-old Huffman High School graduate had plans to pursue a criminal justice degree. Instead, just a few weeks into summer last year, she was shot to death by her boyfriend, who later turned the gun on himself.

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, a national effort to raise awareness about abuse in teen and 20-something relationships and promote programs that prevent it. Studies show that 1 in 3 teenagers in the U.S. will experience physical, sexual or emotional abuse by a dating partner before reaching adulthood.