Implementing expect respect support groups for adolescents exposed to violence - facilitators' experiences and perspectives on working within the school system

Ball, Barbara

Saturday, March 21, 2015: 2:10 PM-3:30 PM

Room 4 (Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel)

Speaker:
Barbara Ball, PhD, LPC, ATR-BC, SafePlace

Authors:
Kristin Holland, PhD, MPH, CDC, Division of Violence Prevention
Khiya Marshall, DrPH, MPH, CDC, Division of Violence Prevention
Caroline Lippy, PhD, CDC, Division of Violence Prevention
Sumati Jain, M.Ed, SafePlace
Kathleen Souders, MA, SafePlace
Ruth Westby, MPH, CDC, Division of Violence Prevention

PDF file

Presentation Format:
Innovative/Promising Practice Program Report

Learning Objectives:

Identify risk factors for teen dating abuse and the need for accessible, targeted prevention programs.
Describe the benefits of a school-based support group model for adolescents who have been exposed to violence in their family, peer and dating relationships.
List challenges and successful strategies for embedding a targeted dating violence prevention program in the school setting.

Description:
Expect Respect supports adolescents who have been exposed to violence and are at risk for future abusive relationships. This presentation explores successes and challenges of implementing the 24-week support group program in the school setting. Interviews with facilitators demonstrate that successful groups and positive outcomes for participants are dependent on building school support, especially for appropriate referral of at-risk students. Increasing training and awareness of school personnel and identification of students exposed to violence are critical steps toward optimizing outcomes.