Violence in a relationship is not just an adult problem. Every day, in schools across the nation, a teenager is abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend. One in three women will experience dating violence by the age of twenty. The statistics make early intervention with adolescents essential in the fight against dating violence. You can help break the silence surrounding the issue of teen dating violence as we attempt to prevent dating violence now and domestic violence in the future.
The DateWise program is funded by grants from the Youth & Family Services Division of the King County Department of Community and Human Services, the Horizons Foundation, and OneFamily Foundation.
DateWise - Teen Dating Violence Prevention
Program Goals
Dating violence occurs when physical, emotional and/or sexual force is used by one person in a relationship to control or dominate the other. The DateWise peer education program is designed to prevent teen dating violence and promote healthy relationship skills by teaching teens the skills they need to recognize abusive behavior, communicate with their peers and have healthy relationships.
- Increase knowledge of the extent, causes, and solutions to teen dating violence
- Increase knowledge of healthy relationship skills and characteristics
- Increase awareness of the warning signs of dating violence
- Promote peer leadership, communication, and activism skills
- Increase community awareness of the prevalence of teen dating violence
DateWise Strategies
- Peer Educators from grades 9 through 12 are selected from a group of applicants to serve on the Datewise Peer Educator Council. The peer education model is mutually beneficial – the peer educators gain invaluable knowledge and expertise while educating their peers about the intricacies of dating violence prevention.
- Peer educators complete twenty-five hours of training in the many facets of teen dating violence. The peer educators continue to be trained twice a month throughout the school year.
- Peer educators perform teen dating violence prevention presentations in the junior high schools, at the high school, and at various other locations in the community.
- Peer educators use a variety of visual, audo and kinesthetic activities in the presentations in an attempt to ensure understanding of the information presented.
Now recruiting peer educators
GMVCC DateWise coordinators work in conjunction with the Tahoma School District to recruit and train peer educators who then perform dating violence prevention presentations in the schools and community. The Datewise Peer Educator Council is in the process of recruiting peer educators and scheduling classroom and community presentations. Tahoma students in grades 10 -12 are encouraged to apply. Please email Kristiane or call 425-432-1272 for application information.
Attention Teachers: We would be delighted to come into your classroom to teach your students about dating violence prevention and healthy relationship skills. Please email Kristiane or call 425-432-1272 for information.
Age Requirement: Teens in high school grades 10 - 12.
| Event | Date | Time | Location | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Training Retreat | November TBD |
TBA | Camp Berachah |
FREE |