We all have a role to play in ending teen dating abuse.
"Dating Abuse: Tools for Talking to Teens" explains the dynamics of teen dating abuse and provides usable strategies for all adults to have realistic and successful conversations with young people. The in-person workshop is scripted and easy-to-use, and anyone can facilitate it. Bring the workshop to your community and/or explore the topic online with our e-courses on Promoting Healthy Relationships and Intervention Strategies.
Our mission is to equip adults– as parents, coaches, teachers, relatives and neighbors – with the right information and strategies to help the teens in their lives thrive in safe and healthy romantic relationships.
All program materials are available on this website and were designed to be easy-to-use. For a detailed walkthrough of the program, download this recorded webinar highlighting the program components.
The Program
One in three teens experience physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner.
Most victims tell no one about the abuse.
Teens need to talk.
If you know a teen, you can make a difference. Learn how to start the conversation.
Learn On Site: The Workshop
Everyone has a role to play in ending teen dating abuse. Think about the teens in your life — perhaps you are a parent, or have nephews or nieces, maybe you coach or volunteer in a youth group, volunteer as a Sunday school teacher or have close friends with children. Most adults do not think the teens they know are at risk, fail to see the signs and lack the skills to have an effective intervention.
This easy-to-use workshop explains the dynamics of teen dating abuse and provides usable strategies for all adults to have realistic and successful conversations with young people. Bring this workshop to your workplace as a lunch-and-learn, to your PTA meeting, your religious school, your coaches' association, or anywhere adults gather.
Anyone can lead this modular one-hour workshop in their community -- the program comes with a Facilitator's Guide and Script, PowerPoint presentation, video and additional training tools. Simply go to "Learn On Site" and register as a facilitator to access the Facilitator Portal. Watch the Training of Trainers webinar, choose the version that will fit your group's needs (one hour is recommended) and empower your community to stop dating violence! Workshop materials are available in English and Spanish.
Learn Online: Online Courses and Tools
Online courses, tip sheets, the video and a webinar recording of the in-person presentation will help you learn more and step up and stop teen dating abuse.
All teens are at risk for dating abuse, and the "Promoting Healthy Relationships" course explores prevention strategies and approaches. "Intervention Strategies" builds skills for what to say if you suspect a teen you know is experiencing abuse as a victim or as a perpetrator. Tip sheets in English and Spanish provide resources for adults and for teens, including anonymous hotlines and recommended websites with more information. A webinar recording of the in-person session is also available online for those unable to attend an in-person session.
WHO WE ARE
For more than 100 years, JWI has been working to end intimate partner violence through innovative programming, education and advocacy. From building self-esteem with pre-teens to sexual assault prevention education on college campuses to financial literacy trainings with women over 50, JWI programs educate, inspire and empower.
Our award-winning Safe Smart Dating program is rolling out to college campuses across the country, facilitating meaningful discussions between young men and young women on dating abuse, sexual assault and bystander intervention. Our When Push Comes to Shove...It's No Longer Love program was one of the first national programs on the prevention of dating abuse. Our National Alliance to End Domestic Abuse offers continued training for domestic violence professionals through high quality monthly webinars. Our advocacy efforts focus on the passage of legislation that supports women and girls, ensures their economic security and their ability to live lives free from violence.
JWI is a principal leader of the Coalition to End Violence Against Women and Girls Globally and serves as a Steering Committee Member of the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women as well as the NO MORE Coalition.
JWI is one of three organizations selected by the Avon Foundation for Women and the No More Campaign as part of the "See the Signs: Speak Out" bystander intervention initiative. The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the Ohio Domestic Violence Network are offering programs on children's exposure to violence and domestic violence in the workplace, respectively. Visit www.SeetheSigns.org to learn more about these programs.
Learn On-Site: The Workshop
You can educate your community about teen dating abuse. It's important, it's necessary, and it's easy to do.
The Dating Abuse: Tools for Talking to Teens workshop provides information and concrete strategies for adults to understand, identify and intervene in abusive teen relationships.This modular, scripted hour-long workshop is free to use and comes with a video, full curriculum and accompanying PowerPoint presentation in both English and Spanish.
Bring the workshop to your workplace as a lunch and learn, to your child's school at a PTA meeting, to your coaches' association session, or anywhere adults gather.
Everyone must play a role in ending teen dating abuse -- we are parents, godparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, religious leaders, tutors, coaches, babysitters, older siblings, neighbors and more. This workshop is designed for anyone who wants to make a positive impact on the teens in his or her life.
To get started, simply click "Learn On Site," select "Facilitator Registration" and register as a Facilitator. The Facilitator Portal has everything you need to lead a session. Spread the word using the tools under "Marketing Materials.
Teens need to talk. Thank you for stepping up and starting the conversation.
Learn On-Site: Marketing Materials
Spread the word about the workshop using the flyers and sample emails below!
Download this fillable flyer to promote this program in your workplace.
Download this promotional flyer that explains the program.
Download this sample letter and adapt as needed to tell your community group about the program.
Download this sample letter and adapt as needed to tell your staff about the program.
Learn On-Site: For Facilitators
Learn Online: Course - Promoting Healthy Relationships
This course focuses on providing young people with a realistic and healthy understanding of relationships. By the end of this course, we hope that you’re comfortable starting conversations with teens about healthy dating. Copy and paste the following link into a new browser tab or window to complete a survey on the effectiveness of this course when you are finished:
(When you are finished, please complete a survey on the effectiveness of this course.)
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: What is a healthy relationship?
Chapter 3: Everyday Prevention
Chapter 4: When Teens Start Dating
Learn Online: Course - Intervention strategies
This course provides guidance for intervening when you suspect that a teen is in an abusive relationship – as a victim or as a perpetrator. By the end of this course, we hope that you’re empowered to step in and start the conversation when a teen you know is experiencing abuse.
(When you are finished, please complete a survey on the effectiveness of this course.)
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Talking to a Victim
Chapter 3: Victim Scenarios
Chapter 4: Talking to a Perpetrator
Chapter 5: Perpetrator Scenarios
Learn Online: Dating Abuse Video
This video follows three teens as their relationships transition from healthy to unhealthy to abusive.
Learn Online: Watch the full presentation online
Want a preview of the workshop? Watch the full presentation here in webinar form.
Learn more about bringing this program live to your community under "Learn On Site."
Tip Sheets
Download the tip sheets below for more information on dating abuse.
Dating abuse is a complex problem, and every relationship is different. See "Understanding Dating Abuse" for an overview on the types and dynamics of dating abuse.
The right resources can really help teens think through their relationships; young people are often most comfortable talking through their concerns with anonymous experts through hotlines, or taking quizzes and learning through websites. Share the "Dating Abuse Resources for Teens" tip sheet with the teens you know.
Your learning doesn't have to stop with this program. See "Dating Abuse Resources for Adults" for more information on teen dating abuse.
DOWNLOAD TIP SHEETS
FAQs
Who is the program for?
This program -- the workshop, online courses and resources -- is intended for any and all adults. The in-person workshop is scripted and easy-to-use, and anyone can facilitate it. You can bring it to your workplace as a lunch and learn, a PTA meeting, a coaches' association...anywhere adults gather.
While parents of teens may be particularly interested, many adults interact with teens in different ways (i.e., aunts and uncles, tutors, coaches, neighbors, older siblings, religious leaders) and can all be educated active bystanders. All adults are encouraged to attend in-person presentations and explore the website.
I am planning to lead the workshop. What should I do now?
Click on "Learn On Site" and select "Facilitator Registration" to register as a facilitator. This allows access to the Facilitator Portal, which includes all materials needed to prepare for your presentation: a short training webinar, a Facilitator's Guide, Facilitator's Script, the PowerPoint presentation and hand-outs and a link to the video. Start by watching the webinar for an overview and instructions for bringing the workshop to your workplace or community group.
How much does the program cost?
The program and materials are offered free of charge.
Is the program available in Spanish?
Yes, the in-person workshop – the Facilitator's Guide and Script, PowerPoint and video -- is available in Spanish. The video has Spanish closed-captioning that you can turn on during viewing. Tip sheets on the dynamics of abuse and resources for teens and adults are also available in Spanish under "en Espanol."
Is there a dating abuse program I can facilitate with teens?
Yes. JWI has two activity-based workshops that you can facilitate with teens and/or college students: “Yes and Know: Boundaries and Communication for Healthy Relationships” and “Ladies & Gentlemen: Gender, Power and Relationships.” The programs are free and easy to facilitate. They are available for download here: jwi.org/teens.
Contact
Questions about bringing the workshop to your community? Comments on the online courses? Contact Deborah Rosenbloom, JWI's vice president of programs and new initiatives, by email or by phone at 202-464-4816.
We value your feedback. Please complete these short surveys: