For over 25 years, Between Friends has been at the forefront of Teen Dating Violence Awareness initiatives through in-school, after-school and youth leadership programs to promote healthy and safe relationships for young people. We do this by not only providing safe spaces for important conversations that acknowledge the struggles faced by today’s youth with dating, intimate relationships, and healthy and unhealthy communication, but also by emphasizing the importance of seeking help. In its tenth year, YCARE’s (Youth Creating Allies for Relationship Education) “Adults Listen Up” Campaign seeks to bridge generational gaps and foster a more connected community where young people feel better supported in talking to the adults in their lives about the challenges they face as young adults.
On February 24, 2024, during Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, our YCARE Leaders brought together two generations to discuss the complex dynamics of supporting today’s youth as they navigate relationships. The “Adults Listen Up” panel structure allowed for a balanced and engaging conversation, offering a comprehensive view of the challenges and opportunities faced by both generations around supporting youth. The adult panel included Between Friends partners who work with young people and/or are parents/caregivers. The other panel was led by our YCARE Leaders, advocating passionately for their voices and perspectives to be heard as they navigate the complexities of school systems, relationships, and their need for better support.
The panels tackled topics around teen dating violence, focusing particularly on the importance of transparency in communication during complex and often uncomfortable and awkward conversations about sex and safety. The youth panel leaders vocalized that they want to have conversations with adults about dating and all its intricacies, but they fear judgement and do not trust that they will get the support that they are seeking. In response, the adults expressed that they do not always have the answers as they are still growing and learning in their roles as parents and caregivers, too. The adult panel also expressed their fear that if an unhealthy dating experience is shared, a young person is susceptible to replicating these negative behaviors, so they are often not as transparent. Both the panels agreed that young people will always be curious and will try new things, but a conducive and safe environment built on trust and without judgement helps young people to make the best decisions to reduce harm and keep themselves and others safe. The discussion ended with both the panels recognizing and reiterating the need for dating violence resources for young people and parents/caregivers that are readily and easily accessible.
By intervening before youth have learned to accept and perpetuate violent behaviors, Between Friends’ REACH (Relationship Education: A Choice for Hope) program seeks to provide a foundation of knowledge and empowerment that will affect a reduction in dating violence. Additionally, by offering prevention programming to young people and the adults in their lives, Between Friends hopes to reduce teen dating violence and increase help-seeking behaviors for those who may have already experienced it. Conversations like the one hosted by our YCARE Leaders help remind us that we can all play an integral role in this work.
Between Friends is honored to create opportunities for these important conversations and is grateful to our friends at Stay and Play Game Cafe for providing a fun and warm atmosphere. This event would not have been possible without our long-time supporters who attended the event and the following adult panel participants who generously shared their time and perspectives: Nicholas L. Jones, Interim Director of Student Culture and Support – Noble Network of Charter Schools; Kimberly Evans, School Counseling Intern – Curie Metropolitan High School; Christian L. Terry, Program Director of C.H.A.M.P.S. Male Mentoring Program; Yesenia Maldonado, Assistant Director of Social Emotional Learning – Noble Network of Charter Schools; and Jennifer Splinter, President of the Board of Directors of Between Friends. Thank you to our YCARE leaders for being key contributors to Between Friends’ efforts to educate and raise awareness about dating violence and to build a future without domestic violence for the communities we serve.