This is a community-based health promotion program to foster healthy relationships and reduce revictimization in adolescent dating situations. The program serves girls between the ages of 12 and 19 with a history of violence or abuse, and who are being monitored by the child protection system.
Twelve group sessions are conducted, each including one of the following topics:
1) Introduction to the group to establish norms and agreements;
2) Power in relationships: outbursts and affirmations;
3) Definition of partner violence: abuses of power;
4) Definition of power in relationships: equality, empathy, and emotional expressiveness;
5) Defining power in relationships: assertiveness rather than aggressiveness;
6) Violation of commitment: being clear, being confident, and knowing how to handle pressure;
7) Gender socialization and social pressure;
8) Friend selection and sex role stereotyping;
9) Sexism and media influence;
10) Confronting sexism and violence against women, and identifying community helpers;
11) Taking action: using what we have learned to help others;
12) final group celebration.