Expect Respect
Support Groups and Counseling
School-based support groups and counseling engage youth (K-12) who have experienced violence or abuse in their dating or family relationships. Boys and girls meet in separate groups, learn skills for healthy relationships and decrease their risk of using and tolerating abusive behavior in their relationships.
Youth Leadership Training
The SafeTeens Youth leadership training empowers youth to become role models and peer educators for healthy relationships. Students speak out against dating violence, sexual harassment and bullying on campus and design a campaign to mobilize their peers. A city-wide contest provides opportunities for youth to express themselves through public service announcements and posters promoting safe and healthy relationships.
The Changing Lives Youth Theatre Ensemble
This dynamic youth theatre company creates original theatrical performances for youth audiences. School-year and summer seasons engage youth in using the arts to promote positive relationships and prevent teen dating violence. Changing Lives is a collaboration between SafePlace and Theatre Action Project.
View the 2010 Changing Lives Production "Perhaps Tomorrow" Tour Dates.
School-wide strategies impact the overall school environment and engage all students and adults in prevention education. Activities include developing school policy, training teachers, nurses, and parent groups, and educating students on healthy relationships in their classrooms.
Men of all ages speak out against sexual and domestic violence. In its second year, this community-wide collaboration hosts a march and rally to engage men, boys and all community members in celebrating safe communities and healthy relationships.
Runaway and homeless youth are vulnerable to dating, sexual and domestic violence in their homes, on the streets, and in youth shelters. In collaboration with the Texas Network of Youth Services, SafePlace provides training and technical assistance to RHY service providers throughout Texas.
Start Strong Austin is a collaboration of school and community partners working together to promote safe and healthy teen relationships. Austin is one of 11 sites across the United States participating in Start Strong: Building Healthy Teen Relationships, a primary prevention initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Start Strong Austin is reaching out to new partners, strengthening youth leadership and utilizing innovative media strategies to bring the community together in building healthy teen relationships.
See how local youth are getting involved, visit StartStrongAustin.org .