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Promoting Healthy Relationships In the Schools

Promoting Healthy Relationships In the Schools. Lori Grassgreen Director of Prevention Projects Alaska Network On Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault lgrassgreen@andvsa.org. Introductions. Name Community

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Promoting Healthy Relationships In the Schools

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  1. Promoting Healthy Relationships In the Schools Lori Grassgreen Director of Prevention Projects Alaska Network On Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault lgrassgreen@andvsa.org

  2. Introductions Name Community Why this topic is important to your students’ lives or important in your classroom?

  3. Healthy Relationships/ Prevention • According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, adolescent dating violence is the greatest precursor to adult intimate partner violence and is associated with injuries and health-compromising behaviors such as unsafe sex, substance use, and suicidal risk.

  4. Violence in Alaska According to Alaska YRBS data, by the 12th grade, over 16% of 12th graders have been hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend There is also some indication that these numbers are significantly higher in alternative school populations

  5. Indicators and Risk Factors Low academic achievement Witnessing violence Heavy substance use Communities or environments that have low accountability Social communities that promote rigid gender roles and hypermasculinity

  6. More good news… There is increasing amount of research that indicates there are protective factors that reduce the risk for perpetrating violence and protective factors for identifying and participating in healthy relationships.

  7. Assets/ Protective Factors When it comes to relationships they are interested and they are listening. SEARCH Institute Indicates that the higher the number of assets in youth indicates lower numbers of youth using violent behavior Youth who are able to deflect substance use, use refusal skills, and communicate effectively School environments that are safe. School and community environments that set clear boundaries, policies, and consequences Opportunities for youth to explore identity and gender roles, especially with key influencers

  8. Do students want to learn this?

  9. Approaches: Health Promotion and Healthy Relationships School-based classroom learning School environments Peer culture Influencer reinforcement Tools for analysis

  10. Core components of successful programs Multi-lesson curriculum Culturally relevant Developmentally appropriate Addresses the triad of risk Varied teaching methods Multiple messengers Includes community and is reinforced outside of the classroom

  11. The Research The Fourth R** SAFE DATES * Ending Violence X Expect Respect * (more response oriented) Respect Rx (pending) Coaching boys to men (pending) Men of Strength Clubs (pending)

  12. Key Findings Students in the Fourth R showed : Higher levels of skills than their counterparts after the program. more likely to use negotiation and delay skills in peer pressure scenarios Less likely to yield to pressure Teachers rated students who had participated in the Fourth R as having better communication, skills, and more overall effectiveness than their peers. At the end of grade 11, students in the Fourth R reported less dating violence perpetration and a greater use of condoms. Students in the Fourth R learned more, enjoyed health class more, and had healthier attitudes about violence at the end of the program. The relationship between child abuse and violent delinquency was much weaker in Fourth R schools than in comparison schools.

  13. Fourth R Unit 1: Personal Safety and Injury Prevention (7 x 75-min. classroom sessions) 1. Focus on healthy relationships (myths/facts about teen relationships, relationship rights & responsibilities) 2. Barriers to healthy relationships (active listening skills and types of violence/abuse) 3. Contributors to violence (group effects on violence, individual differences) 4. Conflict & conflict resolution (communication styles: passive, assertive, aggressive; conflict scenarios) 5. Media violence (student presentations of examples of violence in the media) 6. Conflict resolution skills (rights and responsibilities when ending a relationship) 7. Action in the school and community Unit 2: Healthy Growth and Sexuality (7 x 75-min. classroom sessions) 1. Focus on healthy sexuality (review of sexuality, myths clarified) 2. Sexuality in the media (media and peer pressure to have a partner/sex) 3. Responsible sexuality (communication with your partner, healthy relationships) 4. Preventing pregnancies and STIs 5. Assertiveness skills to deal with pressure in relationships (negotiation, delay & refusal skills) 6. Sexuality: Responsibilities and consequences (sexual abuse, dating violence, decision-making) Unit 3: Deflecting Substance Use

  14. Classroom-based tools • Creating a peer culture • School environment that • reinforce messages • Involving key influencers • Reinforcing messages outside of school. Challenges Opportunities

  15. Next Steps

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