Safe Dates and Choose Respect
June 10 - Abingdon
Aug 12 - Richmond
Oct 7 - Eastern Virginia (registration and location to be announced for this
date)
This is a free training but registration is required and space is limited.
Although the training is free there will be a $25 fee assessed to
registrants who register and do not attend. Please visit here to register:
http://www.vahealth.org/civp/sexualviolence

This engaging workshop targets professionals who work with young people ages
11-17 in school and community settings. The free one day training will
cover two nationally recognized curricula. The first 30
agencies/schools/organizations to have a representative registered will
receive the Safe Dates curricula. All registered participants completing
the training will receive a copy of the Choose Respect Video and curriculum
guide. Continental Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Afternoon snack
will NOT be provided but will be available for purchase at event location.
See below for detailed descriptions of the two curricula.

Safe Dates: An Adolescent Dating Abuse Prevention Curriculum training
As the only research-based curriculum of its kind, Safe Dates helps young
people recognize the difference between healthy, caring, and supportive
relationships, and controlling, manipulative, and abusive dating
relationships. Highly engaging and interactive, Safe Dates has been shown to
be effective with both boys and girls and it addresses perpetrators of
violence as well as victims. It works as both a prevention and intervention
tool, with case studies and activities that are relevant for teens that have
not started dating as well as those who have been "going out" for a long
time.
The nine-Session Safe Dates curriculum, which can be delivered in as few as
four sessions, includes cost-saving reproducible student handouts.
Highlights of the curriculum include a dating bingo game to help young
people identify desirable traits in dating partners and a play on dating
abuse that was written by high school students.
Other important features of Safe Dates include:
. a Scope and Sequence document and links to national academic
standards
. pre- and post-implementation evaluation tools
. parent materials to encourage caregivers to be involved in this
issue
. a training outline for enlisting support from school staff or
community youth organizations
To learn about Safe Dates research, training, sample lesson, authors and
more visit: hazelden.org/safedates.

Choose Respect: Healthy Teen Relationships Training
Choose Respect is a national initiative to help youth ages 11-14 form
healthy relationships to prevent dating abuse before it starts. The
initiative reaches out to youth in this age group because they are still
forming attitudes and beliefs that will affect how they are treated and how
they treat others. Choose Respect also connects with parents, teachers,
youth leaders, and other caring adults who influence the lives of youth.
The way youth act and treat each other is often a reflection of adults'
actions. Healthy relationships are built on a foundation of respect. You
can help by educating youth and adults about the Choose Respect initiative
and how youth build healthy relationships.

The Virginia Department of Health is pleased to offer this upcoming Choose
Respect: Healthy Teen Relationships Training. All training participants
will receive a copy of the Choose Respect Video and Curriculum Guide. This
guide will give you everything you need to present Choose Respect and lead a
discussion about dating abuse in youth. Use this guide to engage youth or
parents and other caring adults.

Course objectives include:

. Define dating abuse
. Identify an unhealthy relationship as depicted by characters in the
Causing Pain: Real Stories of Dating Abuse and Violence Video List
. Recognize the qualities of healthy relationship behavior
. Demonstrate a way to tell youth in unhealthy relationships how to
end the relationship or get help
. Identify the warning signs of an abusive relationship
. List recommendations for maintaining a healthy relationship
. Develop an activity to promote Choose Respect and healthy,
respectful relationships in the community



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Rebecca K. Odor, MSW
Director of Sexual & Domestic Violence Prevention
Division of Injury and Violence Prevention
Virginia Department of Health
109 Governor St. #815G
Richmond VA 23219
of: 804-864-7740
fax: 804-864-7748
email: Becky.Odor@...
web: www.vahealth.org/civp/sexualviolence