Healthy Relationships for Teens

 

The Healthy Teens program goal is to educate at-risk teens ages 13-19 (boys and girls) and young mothers up to age 24 about domestic violence and teen dating violence in order to prevent intimate partner violence and assist those already experiencing violent relationships.

YWCA staff conduct educational, health-promoting presentations focused on intimate partner violence, which help participants learn about, avoid, and get out of violent relationships. The curriculum defines healthy and abusive relationships, signs of abuse, characteristic behaviors of victims and perpetrators, and available resources. Presentations include group discussions, Q&A, and handouts, such as the Teen Power and Control Wheel. Post-presentation questionnaires are used to evaluate participant changes in knowledge. Those teens already experiencing violence are provided with assistance.

As a support to the Healthy Teens program, the YWCA SGV also conducts presentations for police officers, medical professionals, and local service club members. These presentations (a) help train service personnel to recognize the signs of dating/domestic violence so that they can effectively assist teens and adults in need and (b) increase community knowledge of dating/domestic violence.