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Safe Dates
Safe Dates
is an evidence-based model program. The
nine-session program that targets attitudes and behaviors of junior and senior
high students 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).
The goals of this program
are
- To raise student
awareness of what constitutes healthy and abusive dating
relationships.
- To raise student
awareness of dating abuse and its causes and consequences.
- To equip students
with the skills and resources to help themselves or friends in abusive
dating relationships.
- To equip
students with the skills to develop healthy dating relationships,
including positive communication, anger management, and conflict
resolution.
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 victims of abuse or confronting friends who are
perpetrators of abuse.
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: Equal
Power through Communication
Students learn the eight skills for effective communication and practice these
skills in a variety of role-plays.
Session 8: 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.
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