Overview

This program focuses on teaching girls to maintain and cultivate healthy
relationships in their lives. As relationships play a key part in a young person’s well being, we
place emphasis on the importance of healthy relationship education to empower young females
to recognize their worth/ value, and promote feelings of support and security, contributing to an
overall healthy well being.

Summary

Young women may experience violence in their relationship. A survey conducted by the United States Department of Justice shows that young women, aged 16-24 years, experience the highest rates of relationship violence, and 1 out of every 3 teenagers has experienced violence in a dating relationship (Bhandari, 2020). A large percentage of teens have reported experiencing some form of abuse, with 60% reporting psychological/ verbal abuse, 18% reporting physical abuse, and 20% reporting sexual abuse (Gordon, 2020). Other types of abuse include digital dating violence, cyberbullying, and financial abuse. As teen years are a transitioning time, young girls are focused on the development of their own identities which includes experimenting with different peer groups, and spending more time focused on friendships and relationships. The absence of self worth, positive support, and overall knowledge of healthy vs unhealthy relationships, as well as other determining factors including experiences of stressful life events, or use of drugs and illegal substances, all contribute to the development of potential unhealthy relationships. Open discussions, and education in a safe space providing positive support, serves as a way to combat the experiences of unhealthy relationships among young girls today.

Objectives

• Identify the characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships
• Recognize risk factors for dating violence and abuse
• Explore the importance of self worth/love and value
• Discuss the importance of creating boundaries.

References:

• Bhandari, S. (2020, February 18). Domestic violence and unhealthy or abusive teen relationships. Retrieved March 08, 2021, from https://teens.webmd.com/unhealth-abusive-relationship
• Gordon, S. (2020, February 28). Teen dating violence: What makes them do it? Retrieved March 09, 2021, from https://www.verywellfamily.com/teen-dating-violence-risk-factors-4584640#:~:text=%20Relation ship%20Risk%20Factors%20for%20Victimization%20%201,socially%20isolated%20or%20lacki ng%20social%20support%20More%20
• Griffin, I. (2018, June 02). Healthy vs. unhealthy teen relationships. Retrieved March 08, 2021, from http://thrivetherapyandcounseling.com/blog/2018/5/30/healthy-vs-unhealthy-teen-relationships