Healthy relationships include mutual respect, good communication, and safe boundaries. These skills are important for friendships, peer relationships, and down the road, dating relationships. With 1 in 12 teens experiencing dating violence, teaching these healthy relationship skills early is critical. That’s why WRC’s Youth Empowerment Programs focus on not just students in high school, but also in middle and elementary schools. We are currently partnering with 12 schools, often in multiple grades, across Susquehanna and Lackawanna Counties.

Supporting the development of healthy non-violent relationships has the potential to reduce the occurrence of violence now and in the future, and to prevent its harmful and long-lasting effects on individuals, other students, their families, and their communities.

WRC’s multi-session, age appropriate and evidence based Healthy Relationships Programs are designed for students in 3^rd-12^th grade and focus on setting boundaries, understanding emotions, communication, and identifying trusted adults. They are taught by WRC’s specially trained educators and offered at no cost to schools. For more information please contact sarahd@wrcnepa.org.

WRC’s Youth Prevention Educator Devin was recently featured on WBRE talking about our middle school prevention programs, highlighting a pilot program with Northeast Intermediate School in Scranton.