Abuse and Rape Crisis Shelter of Warren County

Safe Dates/Healthy Relationships

Engagement of pre-adolescent and adolescent youth in the schools

 is an important target of Healthy Relationship Training. Our P.O.W.E.R. (Positive Outcomes When Expecting Respect) Program effectively accomplishes that through classroom interaction.

The primary goal of P.O.W.E.R. is to compliment existing school-based prevention programming by providing teens with a forum to examine issues of dating violence, sexual harassment, bullying and their interrelationships through a series of specialized curricula, dialogue and films . We know from research that many of the perpetrators and victims of these crimes are children. Experiencing child abuse or witnessing the abuse of parents increases the risk for dating violence for both boys and girls, Other victims are teens and/or pre-teens from non-abusive homes who find themselves caught up in unhealthy relationships. Prevention reinforces the development of relationships that are healthy and provide the foundation for adult interactions that do not lead to child abuse or domestic violence. Prevention also teaches children how not to be a victim.

Week-long presentations on dating relationships explores dating expectations, sex role stereotypes, definition of abuse and respect, jealousy and control, dating rights and responsibilities, assertive communication, fair disputes, and the proper way of ending a relationship without conflict. The curriculum balances didactic and interactive learning methods to help youth raise their awareness of what constitutes healthy and abusive dating relationships, as well as the causes and consequences of dating abuse.  P.O.W.E.R. utilizes Safe Dates, a dating and sexual violence prevention program intended for use with middle and high school students. This program has been recognized on several best practice lists such as Safe Schools, Safe Students, and SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Model Programs.

Currently P.O.W.E.R. is in 9 out of 10 school districts in Warren County’s middle or high school classrooms providing education to over 2000 students annually.

To implement this program in your school contact Megan Crouch at:

arcs-crouch@bizcinci.rr.com 

or phone:

• Lebanon    513-695-2766
• Cincinnati   513-925-2766
• Dayton       937-425-2766
• Franklin      937-261-2766