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February marks Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

The Daily Nonpareil - 2/11/2018

About one in three teens will experience abuse in a dating relationship.

Catholic Charities Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program is offering programs at schools in southwest Iowa to help students know what a healthy relationship is and to give students ways they can help each other foster respect for all students.

Healthy Relationship Curriculum for youth

Catholic Charities Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program offers a 10-week "Healthy Relationship" curriculum to high schools and middle schools students in nine southwest Iowa counties.

This curriculum is relatable to youth, activity oriented and interactive with real-life examples. It focuses on teaching students about respect in a relationship. Currently, the curriculum is being presented at schools in Logan, Sidney, Red Oak, Atlantic, Treynor and Council Bluffs.

"Pick up the trash, even if no one is looking. Show respect for yourself and others," said an eighth-grade boy after talking about respect and integrity during a Healthy Relationship class in Sidney.

Mentors in Violence Prevention

Mentors in Violence Prevention is a peer leadership model program that seeks to empower those who might otherwise be silent observers to situations where bullying and gender violence is unfolding.

Currently, MVP is adopted by Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs and also by Treynor High School. Both schools have the program set up using upperclassmen as the mentors to the underclassmen calling it the Freshman Mentor Program.

Mentors in Violence Prevention has also been conducted on a smaller scale in classrooms at Exira Middle School and Glenwood Alternative High School.

For information and implementation of these programs, contact prevention specialist Emilee Birchard, Prevention Specialist at 712-256-2059 ext. 115 or ebirchard@catholiccharitiesdm.org.