PREP - Healthy Relationships

Many existing school- or community-based programs designed to prevent pregnancy and STIs for youth focus on general sexual behaviors, but typically do so outside the context of adolescent relationships. Since most teenagers have their first sexual encounters within the context of dating relationships, it is important to teach youth how to build and navigate healthy relationships and end unhealthy ones.

Healthy Relationship Topics

• Information about gender-based stereotypes (including sexual double standards).
• How to show caring and affection without having sex.
• Conflict management skills.
• Parent-child communication.
• Communication skills.
• Limit setting, and navigating different limits in relationships.
• Skills to develop healthy relationships.
• Identifying unhealthy relationships.
• Skills to safely end unhealthy relationships.

Factors Associated with Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships

Healthy

• Trust
• Honesty
• Support
• Open and honest communication
• Flexibility
• Fun
• Enjoyment
• Respect
• Equality
• Limit setting

Unhealthy

• Cheating
• Dishonesty
• Controlling
• Older partner
• Jealousy
• Emotional and/or physical abuse
• Selfishness
• Over-dependency
• Relationship revolves only around sex
• Disrespect

Tips on incorporating Healthy Relationship Activities

• Involve parents in the conversation about building healthy relationships so young people are aware of the values their parents wish to convey to them about healthy relationships.
• Utilize interactive formats for program activities.
• Use booster sessions to continue to support healthy relationship messages that are developmentally appropriate.
• Include families, health care workers, media, and community-based organizations (CBOs) that serve youth to reinforce messages about healthy relationships.
• Incorporate peer education into programs - peers are an important influence in shaping adolescent attitudes.
• Be inclusive by considering developmental level, culture, sexual orientation, and prior dating experience.

The above information was taken from: Family and Youth Services Bureau. Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, PREP Adult Preparation Subjects - Resource Guide (PDF), 2021

PREP Curricula Incorporating Healthy Relationship Activities and/or Lessons

• ¡Cuídate! (Take Care of Yourself)
• Making Proud Choices!
• Teen Outreach Program (TOP)
• Sexuality for All Abilities
• All 4 You!
• Be Proud! Be Responsible! Be Protective!
• FLASH
• IN-clued
• Live It!

Healthy Relationship Curricula, Lessons and Media

• Teens and Adults Learning to Communicate (TALC: NYC) – CHIPTS
• The Art of Loving Well
• Preventing Teen Dating Violence | Youth.gov
• Fourth R Programs – Youth Relationships
• Relationship Smarts Plus 4.0 Classic - The Dibble Institute
• Baby Smarts
• The Dangers of Sexting: What Teens Need to Know
• Dealing with Teen Dating Abuse: Crossing the Line
• Healthy Choices, Healthy Relationships
• Love Notes
• PREPARE-ENRICH-INSPIRE
• Reflections
• Relationship Smarts PLUS
• Incorporating Teen Dating Violence Prevention into Your PREP Programming - The Exchange (hhs.gov)

Articles on Healthy Relationships

ACT for Youth Center of Excellence Research Facts and Findings

• Romantic Relationships in Adolescence

Center for Young Women's Health

• Healthy Relationships - Includes topics of family, friends, dating, and parents
• Safety in Relationships

Child Trends Research Brief

• New Healthy Relationships Curriculum Can Support Student Well-being during and after COVID-19
• Supporting mental health and cultivating strong relationships are essential for healthy schools
• Building Healthy Relationships Among DC Youth: A Universal Bullying Prevention Program

Planned Parenthood

• How to have a great relationship

Scarleteen

• Does Your Relationship Need a Check-up

StayTeen.org

• Unhealthy Relationships: Seeing Past the Stereotypes

Other Healthy Relationship Links

Dating Matters™ Initiative

• Understanding Teen Dating Violence Prevention is a free 60-minute, interactive training designed to help educators, youth-serving organizations, and others working with teens understand the risk factors and warning signs associated with teen dating violence.

The National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline

• Love is Respect is a website with resources on dating basics, conflict resolution, including electronic quizzes such as "Am I a Partner?" and "Healthy Relationships Quiz," and a 24-hour peer advocate hotline.