Youth & School Programs

Youth groups: JBWS' Project Prevention and Dating Abuse Prevention Program staff reach out to youth groups in the community to promote healthy relationships. Over the years, speakers have talked with youth at Girl Scout meetings, afterschool programs, club meetings, faith-based groups, recreation centers, neighborhood centers, and summer camps. As a result, youth are learning 1) to recognize warning signs of abusive relationships, 2) how to respond to a friend who is experiencing abuse, 3) how to reach out to family, school and community resources for help, and 4) how to take an active leadership role, in the prevention of dating and domestic abuse. To schedule a youth presentation call the Project Prevention Coordinator at 973-267-7520 Ext. 221.

School Curriculum: In the 1980s, Jersey Battered Women's Service was one of the first of a handful of domestic violence agencies in the country to begin offering high-school presentations and counseling services specifically on dating abuse.

Today, our dating violence prevention curriculum is presented by JBWS staff to 1) most of the county's public, private and alternative high schools; 2) every freshman orientation class at the local Fairleigh Dickinson University; 3) several community-based, high-risk, adolescent service provider programs; and 4) about a dozen middle schools — with the requests growing. Professional theatrical performances are sometimes arranged to enhance a student's learning. In total, the program educates more than 7,500 students each year. To schedule a school program call DAPP Coordinator at 973-267-7520 Ext. 136.

Our new curriculum, "Know More to Say No More", includes 10 lessons to choose from and is available for teachers, domestic violence prevention educators, and youth workers to implement in their schools or youth-based programs with 7th — 10th graders.