Description

The Safe Dates curriculum is a ten-session program that targets attitudes and behaviors associated with dating abuse and violence. Each session is approximately 50 minutes in length. Safe Dates can be flexibly scheduled (e.g. daily or weekly sessions). Reproducible student handouts are included at the end of each session.

Below are descriptions of each section:

  • Session 1: Defining Caring Relationships - Through a bingo game and class discussions, students are introduced to the Safe Dates program and they evaluate how they would like to be treated in dating relationships.
  • Session 2: Defining Dating Abuse - Through the discussion of scenarios and the review of statistics, students clearly define dating abuse.
  • Session 3: Why Do People Abuse - Through large- and small-group discussions and the review of scenarios, students identify the causes and consequences of dating abuse.
  • Session 4: How to Help Friends - Through a decision-making exercise, a dramatic reading and the introduction of the “Friend's Wheel,” students learn why it is difficult to leave abusive relationships and how to help a friend if she or he is in an abusive relationship.
  • Session 5: Helping Friends - Through stories and role-playing, students practice effective skills for helping friends who are abused or confronting friends who are abusing.
  • Session 6: Overcoming Gender Stereotypes - Through a writing exercise, small-group discussions and scenarios, students learn about gender stereotypes and how these stereotypes can affect dating relationships.
  • Session 7: How We Feel, How We Deal - Through the use of a feelings diary and a discussion of “hot buttons,” students learn effective ways to recognize and handle their anger, so it doesn't lead to abusive behavior.
  • Session 8: Equal Power through Communication - Students learn the four skills for effective communication and practice these skills in a variety of role-plays.
  • Session 9: Preventing Dating Sexual Abuse - Through taking a quiz, analysis of scenarios and a discussion with peers, students learn about the issue of dating sexual abuse and how to prevent it from happening.
  • Session 10: Reviewing the Safe Dates Program - Through discission, evaluation and a poster contest, students will review the safes dates program.

Dating Abuse Play

The Safe Dates program includes a forty-five-minute play about dating abuse and violence, which was written by high school drama students. Before presenting the play, consider sharing local statistics on the prevalence of teen dating abuse. Following the performance, the actors lead discussions with the audience, preferably in small groups, about the issues presented in the play.

Consider presenting this play as a schoolwide assembly, as part of your school's drama program or at other school or community events. You do not need professional actors. Enlist the help of your school’s drama department or put on the play with your own students.

Poster Contest

Hosting a poster contest is a great way to reinforce the concepts learned in the curriculum. Posters on the theme of dating abuse prevention can be displayed in school hallways or other community buildings such as libraries, city hall, community centers and shopping malls. Students could also use their posters when giving presentations to various school or community groups.

Parent Materials

As in every strong prevention effort, it is important to get your students’ parents or guardians involved in your Safe Dates program. Included with the curriculum is an evidence-based family program, consisting of booklets that parents and their children work through together. All parent materials are provided in English and Spanish.