Part I

A course of study taught in many schools has helped countless teenagers. Through the Teen Dating Violence Intervention and Prevention Project, students have been shown different ways to learn how to communicate without fighting. While attending the classes some even recognized their own destructive behavior, abuse to themselves, their families or friends, and have gone on to group or individualized counseling. Teachers let students know help is available.

Classes are interesting enough to captivate student's attention and initiate valuable discussions. The students ask numerous questions. Some parents are surprised to learn that in the middle school years when their children begin to go through so many changes, they do welcome answers to their questions while in the Teen Dating Violence classes. Student reaction to the weeklong sessions has been positive. Parental permission is required to participate, but it is rare for a parent to oppose the class.

"Students are starting to develop interpersonal relationships," said Michele Rosen, LCSW, director of the project.

"Violence," she says, "becomes intergenerational. We try to break the cycle of violence."

The classes are not just about dating violence. And abuse crosses all lines of the socioeconomic stratum. "We have students seeking help from different religions, races, and areas of town," says Rosen.

Would it startle you to learn that even pets are involved in the cycle of abuse? Sometimes the aggressor takes out violent acts on pets in the home. The Greater Miami Humane Society is one of the newest partners in supporting those who request help from domestic violence. When individuals seek help at shelters available through the county, foster homes are sought for the family pets until families are reunited.

Many adults familiar with the program have the same reaction.  "I wish they had this when I went to school," was a comment voiced by many adults.

Teachers are educated in the program by a team of trained counselors including Mrs. Marion Williams, a TRUST Counselor at Palmetto Middle School. One training session included teachers from Palmetto, Brownsville, Homestead Middle and several other middle schools.

"A lot of kids are in abuse situations and are not even aware that they are in them," said James Smith, of Richmond Heights Middle School. "A follow-up program helps them. It is really a positive experience."

Meantime, Homestead Middle School teacher Lydia Fonseca said, "It teaches the students what can happen on dates, how to avoid negative situations and how to deal with them when you encounter them."

Kareen Bally from Palmetto Middle School agreed.

"I believe all teachers need to familiarize themselves with the program," said Bally. "The program shows teachers how to be aware and what signs to look for."

How does the program begin to help teens? One example described how some students might realize during a Teen Dating Violence discussion that they are about to lose their boyfriend or girlfriend because their behavior has been too controlling. So, they seek help. Others may learn their behavior is far beyond what is appropriate and may be dangerous. At the end of the program students often fill out forms requesting help.

The middle school students are taught signs of emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Identifying abuse, such as withholding friendship, helps teens to realize the emotional pain they cause others, a dilemma we read about too often these days in teen tragedies.

Next-Part II The signs of abuse and students' reaction to the program