Are you interested in helping to create a healthier, safer and more just community? Would you like to learn more about recognizing the signs of unhealthy dating behavior and working to prevent teen dating abuse? Would you like to be part of a social change movement that has a deep and lasting impact in the Jewish community and beyond? Would you like to improve your leadership skills? Are you in grade 10, 11, or 12? If so, consider becoming a TeenSafe Peer Fellow!

TeenSafe is a program of Journey to Safety, the JF&CS response to dating abuse in our community. Thanks to an exciting new partnership, TeenSafe is also a focus area of Combined Jewish Philanthropies’ Jewish Teen Initiative (JTI).

What Do TeenSafe Peer Fellows Do?

Learn

• What makes some things people say or do healthy, unhealthy, controlling or abusive in a dating or other intimate relationship (it’s not as obvious as it sounds sometimes!)
• Why it can be hard to decide whether to stay or break up with someone who acts in controlling or abusive ways
• Ways to support someone who is being mistreated by their partner and how a friend can help

Create Change

• Help design and present workshops for other teens in the community
• Create awareness-raising social media campaigns for the national Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (February) and throughout the year
• Write blogs, make videos, represent TeenSafe at events
• Collaborate with other Peer Fellows to create a final impact project at the end of the year

Build Skills (You Choose Which Ones!)

• Overall leadership
• Public speaking/presenting
• Designing social media content
• Writing
• Project management (organizing, collaborating, timelines, etc.)

Participate in the Larger JTI Program

• Get to know – and learn alongside – other student leaders engaging within the Jewish community and beyond
• Be part of additional learning and skill-building opportunities, including chances to participate in trainings led by other teens on related topics
• Explore optional leadership, learning, training and service opportunities both with JTI and with participants from similar programs around the country.

Earn community service hours upon completion of the year!

Logistics

We follow the JTI calendar, meeting about once a month (a little more often at the very beginning of the year) in locations around Greater Boston. Meetings are usually held on Sunday afternoons.

Learn more about the JTI Peer Leadership Fellowship

Apply to be a TeenSafe Peer Fellow (Note that you will be redirected to the JTI website to access the online application.)

I came into the program expecting that I was only going to review information I already knew, but in reality I learned more than I ever could have imagined. Now, I am more confident in identifying abuse and helping those that might be in danger.

- TeenSafe participant

Eligibility

TeenSafe is open to 10th, 11th, and 12th grade teens. Once you have completed the application, someone from TeenSafe or JTI will contact you to schedule an in-person, Zoom or phone interview.

TeenSafe Blogs

Read more about TeenSafe on the JF&CS blog.

You can also read more about TeenSafe from the following blog posts:

How to Talk with Teens About Dating

Talking About Technology-Related Abuse in Teen Relationships

Manipulation and Gaslighting in Teen Dating

TeenSafe awareness-raising workshops are offered at no cost for the host sites. There also is no charge to join the Peer Fellow program. For more information or to schedule a workshop, contact us at teensafe@jfcsboston.org.