SafeHaven of Tarrant County

Outreach Services

74% of all Texans have in someway been affected by domestic violence. The consequences of domestic violence on families, friends, workplaces, and the community are tragic (Texas Council on Family Violence, 2004). Educating the public about domestic violence and its effects is vital to developing a community that takes a proactive stance in ending this epidemic.

In order to heighten awareness about domestic violence and prevention, SafeHaven provides a variety of community education presentations. All presentations are designed to be age-appropriate and are available to schools, churches, civic organizations, businesses and other community groups.

Presentations for Adults

Domestic Violence

The Domestic Violence presentation provides a general overview of domestic violence. In addition to educating community members on facts and statistics, this program informs the attendees about the warning signs and the dynamics of domestic violence. Groups are provided with information about services available through SafeHaven of Tarrant County.

Healthy Discipline

Healthy Discipline is a presentation designed to educate parents on disciplining children without violence. This presentation explores developing goals and household rules for children; reasons why children misbehave and tips on redirecting their behavior; and, child abuse and its warning signs.

Bully Beware

Bully Beware is a workshop for parents. The information presented increases parental awareness of the definition and statistics regarding the prevalence of peer abuse; increases knowledge of the consequences of peer abuse; and provides specific actions parents can take to help their child avoid being a victim or a bully.

Bully Proof Your School

Bully Proof Your School is a seminar provided to educators and other school personnel to teach prevention and intervention strategies for dealing with school violence. This training increases awareness of the link between bullying and domestic violence, other high-risk behaviors and student school performance. A video is part of the curriculum focusing on the effects of family violence on children and how children grow up to become either a victim or an abuser. Strategies are presented to enable school personnel to implement anti-bullying programs in the classroom; develop school-wide initiatives; and lower student vulnerability.

Parents as Allies

Parents as Allies is part of SafeHaven's teen dating violence education program. This presentation, specifically for the parents of teens, addresses the dangers and warning signs of teen dating violence.

Presentations for Elementary School Children

Story Time

Story Time is an anti-bullying program specifically geared to children in preschool through the third grade. Stories are read to children to teach them empathy and understanding of how hurtful bullying can be. Afterward, discussions are held to answer children's question and concerns.

Peer Abuse Learning Standards (PALS)

PALS, an anti-bullying program for children in third through sixth grade, educates children on the affects of bullying on both the victim and the bully; gives students alternative methods of handling bullies without fighting back; raises awareness of the potential impact of bullying; increases acceptance of differences in personalities and appearances; and, stresses the importance of bystander's ability to stop aggressive behavior.

Presentations for Middle and High School Children

Alternatives to Violence (ATV)

Alternatives to Violence is a new 4-week program for middle school students designed to help them gain the social and critical thinking skills they need to be violence-free. Sessions are interactive and include discussions about developing effective communication, understanding conflict resolution, learning empathy, and cultivating self-esteem. These and other topics are critical to a youth’s social and intellectual development. Participating in the Alternatives to Violence program will give youths the skills necessary to avoid abusive behavior, either as the victim or the aggressor.

Expect Respect!

Expect Respect!, a teen dating violence prevention program, defines relationship abuse and the cycle of violence to middle and high school aged students. This presentation discusses the warning signs of abuse; offers helpful tips for ending abusive relationships; informs teens of what they can do to help friends in these situations; and, describes healthy behaviors in contrast to abuse.

SafeDATE

SafeDate provides prevention programs for middle and high school students. Session topics include: defining dating violence; identifying red flags of abuse; developing empathy; discussing healthy relationships; and demonstrating respect. Through discussion, writing activities, role-playing and art projects, teens learn new skills in dealing with the dangerous realities of dating violence.

Pregnant and Parenting Teens

The Pregnant and Parenting Teen presentation provides prevention education specific to teen parents. In addition to providing teens with prenatal and parenting skills, curriculum for this program equips teens with interpersonal, relationship and life skills.

Education Services provides the community with valuable education which helps individuals to recognize and reduce domestic violence. For more information about SafeHaven's Education Services, contact Penni Guerrero at 817-535-6462 ext. 111 or via email at pguerrero@safehaventc.org.