PPCNJ's Dating Violence Prevention Programs: Helping Teens Recognize Unhealthy Relationships

Shrewsbury, NJ – In recognition of Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness month (February), Planned Parenthood of Central New Jersey (PPCNJ) wants to remind teens and adults of its programs on dating violence prevention and intimate partner violence.  PPCNJ’s programs focus on the dangers of dating violence, characteristics of healthy relationships, warning signs for dating abuse, how to help a friend who is in an abusive relationship, skills for communicating effectively within a relationship, and managing feelings and anger appropriately. 

“Planned Parenthood is widely known as the most trusted name in reproductive health care and education.  Our goal is to keep our clients safe and healthy and part of that includes educating them on dating violence prevention and awareness,” states Phyllis Kinsler, President and CEO of PPCNJ. “Because patients already trust us with information about the most intimate part of their lives, Planned Parenthood is often the first place they feel comfortable discussing relationship violence.”

“Statistics show that one in three adolescent girls in the United States is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner,” states Alison Glaser, PPCNJ’s Vice President of Community Services.  “In addition, 57 percent of teens know someone who has been physically, sexually, or verbally abused in a dating relationship and many of these abused teens will turn to their friends for help or advice before going to a parent or a counselor.  Through our education programs, we have the opportunity to teach adolescents about the signs of abuse, the characteristics of an abuser, and reinforce that victims of sexual assault and abuse are never to blame.” 

The statistics on intimate partner violence among adolescents are startling:
• Between 10 percent and 38 percent of high school students have been victims of dating violence.
• Among students currently dating, as many as 59 percent have experience physical violence and 96 percent experienced psychological or emotional abuse.

Since June 2007, PPCNJ has delivered 88 single-session workshops to over 2,000 individuals on this topic. To reach these individuals, PPCNJ partnered with more than 30 agencies including high schools, alternative schools, community-based organizations, and a faith-based youth group.  Starting in September 2008, PPCNJ began delivering a new 4-session teen dating violence prevention program targeted towards middle and high school students.  To date, about 150 students in New Brunswick, Perth Amboy and Keansburg have participated. 

Through the use of small and large group discussion, communication skill-building activities, role play and multi-media presentations, PPCNJ’s dating violence prevention programs explore the following topics:

• Defining types of abuse: physical, psychological, sexual, and verbal
• Identifying signs and symptoms of abusive behaviors and situations
• Identifying strategies for avoiding abusive relationships
• Comparing characteristics of healthy relationships and unhealthy/abusive relationships

PPCNJ adopts creative approaches to teaching teens about this topic. Most recently, PPCNJ’s newest Teen Advisory Group – which includes students from Freehold Township High School’s Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), developed a Valentine’s Day dating abuse prevention awareness campaign.  The group’s advisor, Joanie McCoy, said about PPCNJ’s involvement with the GSA members, “Thank you for contributing to the growth and development of these kids and helping them to feel really good about themselves.”

In addition to the educational workshops discussed above, PPCNJ delivers a professional development workshop on intimate partner violence which can be tailored to suit a variety of audiences including clinic/health center staff, educators and administrative staff.

To learn more about PPCNJ’s dating violence prevention programs, or to have a PPCNJ educator present a program at your agency, please contact Alison Glaser, Vice President of Community Services.

Planned Parenthood of Central New Jersey (PPCNJ):   PPCNJ has been providing reproductive health care services to women and their families since 1935. Its six health centers are located in Freehold, Hazlet, Perth Amboy, New Brunswick, Shrewsbury, and Spotswood. Each year, approximately 15,000 women, adolescents and men are served in its health centers and its education team delivers programs and workshops to over 25,000 adolescents, young adults, parents and youth-serving professionals.

All PPCNJ services are confidential and fees are based on the clients’ ability to pay.  Health centers are located at:

800 West Main Street, Freehold, NJ 07728, 732.431.1717
1 Bethany Road, Building 6, Suite 91, Hazlet, NJ 07730, 732.888.4900
10B Industrial Drive, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, 732.246.2411
450 Market Street, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861, 732.442.4499
69 East Newman Springs Road, Shrewsbury, NJ, 07702, 732.842.9300
12 Snowhill Street, Snowhill Plaza, Suite 3, Spotswood, NJ, 08884, 732.723.9192

For more information, please visit www.ppcnj.org