When we’re talking about promoting healthy relationships and interrupting and preventing dating abuse, the first step is to learn more!

Thank you for checking out our information about hosting a TeenSafe workshop for teens and adults in your synagogue, youth group, day school, camp, parenting group, or other youth or parent-focused program.

We offer programs for middle and high school students, as well separate workshops for parents/guardians and professionals/volunteers who work with young people directly or indirectly. 

Workshop Goals

Our programs are designed to help participants …

• Identify healthy, unhealthy, controlling, and/or abusive behaviors in intimate relationships
  • Explore the ways in which some behaviors that seem to be loving or kind might actually be controlling or manipulative
• Better understand why it can be hard to decide whether to stay or break up with someone who acts in controlling or abusive ways
• Learn about ways to support someone who is being mistreated by their partner
• Know where they or someone they care about can find help and support
• Think about how they can take care of themselves while supporting someone else

Workshop Format

We work with each host to design a workshop or workshop series that is age-appropriate and reflects the overarching norms and values of their community. Programs can be single or multi-session and can be tailored to fit the time available (such as a class period or activity block). 

Our Community-Focused Approach

TeenSafe is committed to addressing teen dating abuse within the Jewish community and beyond.

We understand that almost any group of teens will reflect a wide range of dating experience and that some teens will not date or get involved in an intimate relationship of any kind while they are in high school. While TeenSafe workshops can help students recognize abusive behavior in their own relationship, our programs are primarily geared toward speaking to a whole community: What do we all need to know? What is our role? What can we do to support someone who is being mistreated by a partner? How can we work together to prevent abuse in our community?

We understand the task of learning about how to identify and respond to dating abuse – and ultimately how to prevent it entirely – as an act of both chessed (lovingkindness) and justice. We hope you will join us in this effort to create safer, healthier, and more just communities for everyone! 

TeenSafe awareness-raising workshops are offered at no cost for the host sites, although a donation to support our work is greatly appreciated. For more information or to schedule a workshop, contact us at teensafe@jfcsboston.org.