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Building Healthy Teen Relationships

Start Strong is reshaping how kids relate to each other

According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 in 10 high school students report experiencing physical dating violence. In addition, a study conducted with 1,430 7th grade students revealed that many were already experiencing physical, psychological and electronic dating violence. Research also suggests a link between experiencing dating violence and other adverse health outcomes later in life.

Start Strong: Building Healthy Teen Relationships, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is tackling this issue in 11 communities across the country. Targeting 11-to-14-year-olds and rallying entire communities, Start Strong is promoting healthy relationships as the way to prevent teen dating violence and abuse before it starts.

As this video illustrates, Start Strong uses innovative strategies to educate and engage youth in and out of school. It empowers teachers and others who influence teens to lead, design and implement teen dating violence prevention programs. The overarching goal: to change the way young people view their dating relationships and what behaviors are healthy and acceptable.

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From the video

This is an issue where you can make a difference.....

A lot of studies that show if you've been hurt, health outcomes for your life are compromised. If we can interrupt it and stop it and prevent it, then we have a shot of preventing a whole host of health-related problems later in life. So prevention matters."

- Esta Soler, President, Futures Without Violence

Remarks from Kristin Schubert, team director

"We knew we'd have to start much earlier to help younger people understand what it means to have a healthy relationship, and give them the tools and awareness to avoid the tragic and life-changing experience of relationship violence. Our focus is on middle school-aged students, and Start Strong strategically works with the community around those students—parents, teachers, coaches, mentors and teen leaders—to reinforce better norms around healthy relationships."

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