About Respect WORKS!

Respect WORKS! A Comprehensive Solution to Address Dating Violence

• Why do we need a dating violence prevention program?
• What is the model?
• What are the goals and outcomes of Respect WORKS!?
• What are the components of the model?
  
• For whom is the model designed?

Why do we need a dating violence prevention program?

One in three teens experiences abuse from a dating partner. That means that in any average middle or high school classroom, at least 10 students will be hurt in some way by a boyfriend or girlfriend. Dating abuse prevention education can’t be thought of as “extra” or “frivolous” but as being fundamental to the health and safety of your students. A sound dating violence prevention program will not only provide your students with life-saving information, it will also help you meet some of the health education standards.

What is the model?

Respect WORKS!integrates Hazelden’s Safe Dates and Break the Cycle’s School Policy Kit, [Ending Violence] and Speak.Act.Change. programs, giving middle and high schools, youth service providers and domestic violence entities the tools they need to respond effectively to teen dating violence issues on and off campus. This comprehensive, best-practices model includes everything from how to implement a school-wide dating violence policy to teaching students how to be leaders in combating dating violence by:

• Developing a comprehensive school policy that addresses teen dating violence.
• Educating students about the basics of dating abuse with Safe Dates.
• Reinforcing student learning with Break the Cycle’s interactive [Ending Violence] program.
• Activating student leadership on the issue.

Break the Cycle and Hazelden Publishing are trusted organizations in violence prevention, advocacy and evidence-based youth programming. By combining their top dating violence resources, these two organizations are able to offer a comprehensive, best-practices model that empowers educators and students to make a difference. 

Respect WORKS! will help communities accomplish the following:

• Create a comprehensive school policy on teen dating violence.
• Raise awareness among staff and students about what constitutes healthy and abusive dating relationships.
• Raise awareness among staff and students about teen dating abuse and its causes and consequences.
• Prevent incidents of teen dating violence.
• Equip staff and students with the skills and resources to be able to help themselves or anyone experiencing teen dating violence.
• Equip students with the skills to develop healthy dating relationships, including positive communication, anger management and conflict resolution.
• Encourage adults and youth to advocate for teens affected by dating abuse.

By implementing a comprehensive, best practices model like this, schools will have a stronger ability to protect teens from dating violence and intervene when dating violence is occurring. All school staff will be on the “same page” in terms of policies and responses to dating violence. Students will receive a comprehensive education that research shows will reduce the rates of dating violence among teens, long after these educational efforts are completed. Schools will also empower students to take action to make a difference for their friends and community around this issue.

What are the components of the model?

The program is comprised of four components:

• School Policy Kit – A guide to creating a comprehensive teen dating violence response policy in your school or district.
• Safe Dates – An evidence-based curriculum proven to reduce incidents of teen physical and sexual dating violence.
• [Ending Violence] – An interactive education program designed to enhance student learning on the topics of teen dating violence and the law.
• Speak.Act.Change – A guide to engage students in advocacy and leadership around the issue of teen dating violence.

For whom is the model designed?

The School Policy Kit is intended for use by school administrators who aim to create a school policy around dating violence or update an existing policy.

The Safe Dates curriculum can be used as a dating abuse prevention tool for middle and early high school students, both male and female. The program fits well within a health education, family life or general life skills curriculum.

Because dating abuse is often tied to the abuse of alcohol and other drugs, educators could also use the program in conjunction with drug and alcohol prevention programs, as well as any other general violence prevention program.

A school counselor could offer the program as part of a support group or counseling/education program or it could be used in afterschool, community youth enrichment such as YMCA or Girl Scouts or faith-based youth programs.

The [Ending Violence] program is designed for use with high school-aged teens in a wide variety of settings including the classroom, after school programs, juvenile diversion programs, shelter environments and community centers.

Because the program focuses on the legal rights and responsibilities of teens in relationships, this program could be used in conjunction with programs focused on law, policy or gang violence prevention.

The Speak.Act.Change program can be used with teens in grades 6-12 and is designed to be implemented in classrooms, school clubs or after-school program settings. A custom version of Speak.Act.Change has been created for the Girl Scouts. For more information about the Girl Scout program, please contact Break the Cycle.