Safe and Healthy Relationships
The Safe and Healthy Relationships Program is an educational program for adolescents of the community that are experiencing issues with inappropriate problematic sexual behaviors (i.e. sexting and cyber harassment/consent). It covers basic biology and sexually transmitted diseases, but takes the topic a bit further by delving into subjects such as relationships, communication, consent and legal issues.
Collaboration
We work very closely with the Juvenile Probation Department, Family Court and the Prosecutor’s office. The program will expand to other area referral sources as it develops, such as: other area agencies, schools, church communities and self-referrals. The adolescent will not have to be involved with the juvenile court system to benefit from this program. We will provide them with written progress reports staffings to discuss difficult, more concerning cases. We will schedule periodic meetings with referral sources to discuss ways to better serve our mutual clients.
Is the program preventative or corrective?
The program is considered to be corrective at this time, although it can also be viewed as preventative. Since many of the initial referrals would be made as a result of a youth’s court involvement, the program would be considered to be corrective. However, when problematic behaviors begin to be observed in youth, they are likely to escalate to more serious acting out behaviors, therefore, the program can also be viewed as being preventive in nature. The program materials are based on clinical, psycho-education material.
What populations are targeted by this program?
The program is geared toward youth, typically those in middle school or high school, who appear to benefit from additional education and accurate information regarding sexual behaviors, or who have been at risk for problems related to sexual health or behavior.
Program Site/Location:
The Center for Child and Family Advocacy, Inc. 219 E. Washington St. Napoleon, Ohio 43545
When will the program be available? What days and hours?
The program will be a closed group and will start on a specific date, lasting for six weeks. Each individual group session will run for one and a half hours: projected to be 5:00pm – 6:30pm.
Client requirements for eligibility:
The adolescent can be referred from Juvenile Probation as a diversion program or referred by other entities. The adolescent may not have any prior legal charges related to a sexual offense.
Client fee for service:
There will be no fee at this time.
How are clients identified or how do clients find out about this program:
Most of the adolescents will be referred by the court system; however as the program grows, it is projected that additional referrals will be made by other community partners in the future.
Number of adolescents to be served:
Undetermined, due to the fact that this is a new program. However, when speaking to a neighboring county that has developed a similar program, they have had enough referrals in a short period of time to support two full groups. The groups consist of 8 to 10 adolescents. It is projected that the referrals will be similar in this community due to the large number of adolescents who have been investigated for inappropriate sexual behaviors i.e. sexting.
Evaluation:
Adolescents will receive pre and post-tests to be able to measure outcomes. Adolescents will also be expected to fill out an evaluation regarding the program and the facilitator to monitor and make any needed changes.
Program Expectations:
Adolescent participants will be expected to:
Be on time for the program and stay for the whole program
Pay attention and participate
Respect one another and the facilitators
Respect the subject matter
Ask Questions
Guardians will be expected to:
Give permission for their child/children to participate by signing a permission slip
Make sure the child has transportation to/from the program
Review “It’s Perfectly Normal-Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex and Sexual Health” by Robie Harris and Michael Emberley before the book is provided to the child
Understand the subject matter discussed during the program will be discussed openly. The child may want answers to additional questions after the class.