Help for Teens
We invite teens and adults who work with teens to partner with us to end dating and sexual violence in the teen community. Contact us and let’s begin the journey to undo social, cultural and environmental factors that make violence acceptable in our society.
The purpose of the Teen Outreach and Education Program is to support teens building relationships with one another, to assist in connecting teens to their own communities, to create a community space for respite from the violence, and to bring about social change. WRC Teen Advocates are supportive adults who will partner with teens in organizing and facilitating conversations and services.
Teens face unique challenges when accessing traditional services available for women trying to free themselves from violent relationships. WRC offers a wide array of support and services: 24 hour support on the phone, and in-person support in our offices, schools, and community locations. Teen education and outreach provide a vehicle for autonomy and restorative justice for teen survivors of dating and sexual violence.
The Teen Outreach and Education Program uses three-pronged prevention strategy to engage, empower and end teen dating and sexual violence:
Engage: WRC engages teens and adults who work closely with teens to prevent dating and sexual violence before the violence occurs. Teens and adults are educated to intervene and assist victims in order to send a collective message that violence is not acceptable.
Primary prevention activities may include:
- Educational programming about dating violence, sexual assault, and healthy relationships to teens.
- Opportunities for teens to gather and engage in advocacy and social change by raising awareness about violence.
- Support, guidance, and education for teens to become peer advocates and peer educators.
- Support and consultation for school districts and agencies serving teens to develop policies regarding dating violence and sexual assault.
- Training opportunities about dating violence, sexual assault, and appropriate responses for those who work directly with teens.
- Development of technology as outreach to teens.
Empower: Secondary prevention is designed to engage teens who have been identified as at risk for becoming victims and/or perpetrators of dating and sexual violence. These teens are provided with support and education tailored to their needs in order to decrease the risk they will be victimized and/or perpetrate violence.
Secondary prevention activities may include:
- Educational programming about dating violence, sexual assault, and healthy relationships to teens.
- Opportunities for teens to gather and engage in advocacy and social change by raising awareness about violence.
- Support, guidance, and education for teens to become peer advocates and peer educators.
- Development of technology as outreach to teens.
End: Tertiary prevention efforts begin after a teen has experienced dating and/or sexual violence. It is designed to assist teens as they heal from the violence in their lives.
Tertiary prevention activities may include:
- Crisis Response Services (as defined above) on- or off-site.
- Support and Advocacy Services (as defined above) on- or off-site.
Help is available. You can get free and confidential information, counseling, and advocacy from a local domestic violence and/or a rape crisis center in your area. You can opt to be anonymous. Ask about your rights and confidentiality. Some reports of abuse may be required to be reported.
Find answers to the following questions and more in our resource section:
How Can I Help a Friend in an Abusive Relationship?
What should I do if my friend is hurting his/her girlfriend or boyfriend?