National Education Standards*

The extent to which each standard is met will be dependent on which segments of the curriculum are addressed in the classroom, as well as the use of the Educator Guide’s suggestions for discussion and interaction.

1. Comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health.

[Ending Violence] lays a foundation from which students gain a clear understanding of what is healthy in a relationship and what is unhealthy or abusive. For grades 9-12, when students are creating a framework for their current and future romantic relationships, the concepts that the curriculum addresses are fundamental to students’ health and well-being.

2. Analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media, technology and other factors on health behaviors.

[Ending Violence] explores the many societal and cultural influences that can play into students’ perceptions of what is healthy or unhealthy in a relationship. In particular, the curriculum addresses the many internal and external obstacles a young victim of abuse may face when trying to leave an abusive relationship or reach out for help.

3. Demonstrate the ability to access valid information, products and services to enhance health.

A primary objective of [Ending Violence] is to familiarize students with youth-friendly, sensitive and comprehensive resources available to help them whether they are experiencing abuse themselves or if they know someone who is. From community health agencies to legal protections to Break the Cycle’s resources for help – this curriculum encourages students to research what is available to them and empowers youth to access those resources if necessary.

4. Demonstrate the ability to use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health and avoid or reduce health risks.

Responsible and respectful interpersonal communication is fundamental to creating and maintaining healthy relationships. The [Ending Violence] curriculum addresses positive and negative interpersonal communication on multiple levels – how to use words in a positive way, alternatives to using violence when feeling upset or angry, verbal and non-verbal examples of abusive behavior and what communication skills are needed to build healthy relationships.

5. Demonstrate the ability to use decision-making skills to enhance health.

A primary objective of this curriculum is to provide young people with the information and tools they need to make the healthiest decisions possible about how they want to treat their partner, how they want be treated in their relationships and how they want to move forward if they are being abused, whether that means accessing the legal system, talking to someone they trust or safety planning. [Ending Violence] also addresses the many factors that hinder young people from making the decision to seek help or to end a relationship if they are being abused.

6. Students will demonstrate the ability to use goal-setting skills to enhance health.

Every segment of the [Ending Violence] curriculum is designed to encourage young people to think of creating violence-free lives, relationships and communities as necessary and achievable goals. The program provides students with the information and skills they need to assess how their relationships affect their health, to set and attain goals of building respectful and healthy relationships and to create personal plans for safety.

7. Demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks.

The [Ending Violence] curriculum helps students think critically about how their relationships can negatively or positively affect their health and quality of life. Segments throughout the program address the serious harm abusive relationships can inflict on a person’s emotional and physical health. The program also covers the options available to young victims of abuse to help them avoid or reduce the risk of future abusive incidents including legal protection and safety planning.

8. Demonstrate the ability to advocate for personal, family and community health.

The [Ending Violence] curriculum provides students with the information and tools they need to confidently advocate for healthy and respectful interactions in their personal relationships, as well as to advocate for healthy relationships in their social circles and communities. By encouraging students to think critically about social and cultural norms around abuse, dating and relationships, [Ending Violence] helps young people form their own messages about their rights to healthy relationships and communities.

*As applicable to [Ending Violence]curriculum. Reprinted from US Department of Health & Human Services.