Expect Respect: A School-Based Program Promoting Safe and Healthy Relationships

This paper details the Expect Respect program, developed by SafePlace: Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survival Center of Austin, Texas. Its goal is to encourage community-based programs and schools to join forces in providing comprehensive prevention and intervention services that address the problems of abuse in students' lives. This document is a "snapshot" of the Expect Respect program.

It has sections on teenage dating violence, sexual harassment and bullying, the need for school-based programs, Expect Respect program history, Expect Respect overview, program components, implementation and replication issues, and future directions. It includes contact information and resources, as well as appendices which provide a table of contents from Expect Respect: A Support Group Curriculum for Safe and Healthy Relationships, intake packets for elementary and secondary students, a pre-group questionnaire, post-group evaluation forms, evaluation forms for classroom presentations, SafePlace guidelines for participating schools, and SafePlace promotional brochures.

It's section on program components details counseling and support groups, classroom presentations, summer teen leadership programs, and training for school personnel. The program works to support youth in healing from past abuse, raise expectations for equality and respect in relationships, enhance safety and respect on school campuses, and promote youth leadership in violence prevention.

The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRC) is a key component in a national network of domestic violence resource centers established through the Violence Against Women Act and funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This paper is one of several Promising Practices papers that are being produced by the Public Education component of the NRC.

SafePlace: Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survival Center is the primary provider of comprehensive sexual and domestic violence prevention, intervention, education and advocacy services in Austin, Texas. Since the inception of SafePlace's parent agencies in the mid-1970's, the organization has developed and provided domestic violence and sexual assault and abuse services in response to the needs of the community.