The Retreat And Southampton Youth Bureau Partner For Safe Dates

The Retreat and Southampton Youth Bureau have partnered for Safe Dates, a 10-week dating abuse prevention curriculum geared towards middle and high school students. The evidence-based curriculum has shown to help reduce physical and sexual dating violence among participants.

Executive Director of The Retreat, Jeffrey Friedman said, “Approximately 1 in 5 female high school students report being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner. The Retreat continues to be committed to playing a significant role in solving this epidemic.” He continued, “Utilizing an evidence based model, Safe Dates, Southampton youth will begin to recognize the “red flags” of an abusive and unhealthy relationship. We are grateful to partner with the Southampton Youth Bureau on this very important initiative,”

The program will teach methods for healthy communication, anger management, and conflict resolution. It will also provide discussions on important topics including defining caring relationships and dating abuse, how to have equal power through communication, how to express and cope with feelings, how to help friends, how to overcome gender stereotypes, why people abuse, and how to prevent dating sexual abuse.

The first Safe Dates series will begin on March 5, 2013, at the Southampton Youth Center which is located at 655 Flanders Road in Flanders, NY. For more information call 631-702-2392 or visit www.southamptontownny.gov.