A Program for Preventing Adolescent Dating Violence: A Grant Proposal Veronica Ceballos California State University, Long Beach May 2012

Dating Violence Among Adolescents Adolescent dating violence is common and often results in serious physical, psychological, and developmental consequences(Foshee et al.,2005). Approximately 1 in 5 high school aged teens are hit, slapped, or beaten by a dating partner each year (Wolfe et al., 2009). Adolescents who have been involved in relationships with dating violence often experience adverse mental health issues and other related problems, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, school disengagement, and post-traumatic stress(Connolly et al., 2010). Researchers found that adolescents who have experienced child maltreatment are more likely to experience dating violence (Zurbriggen 2009).

Social Work Relevance Adolescent dating violence is a human rights, public health, acquired injury, chronic disease, and mortality issue (Wekerle et al., 2010). As social workers, it is imperative to educate and bring awareness to adolescents of the dangers dating violence contains. Studies indicate that in order to reduce the cycle of violence in adolescents, they must be educated about healthy dating relationships (Wolfe et al., 2009).

Multicultural Relevance Dating violence perpetration is thought to be greater among Black adolescents, followed by Latinos adolescents and White adolescents, and finally Asian adolescents (Foshee et al.,2010). Diverse circumstances in the communities of young people, such as urban density, ethnic minority status, family structure, and socioeconomic disadvantage, can increase the risk of dating violence (Connolly et al., 2010).

Methods Target population for the proposed program will be adolescents who attend middle school or high school in the Long Beach Unified School District. The proposed program will specifically focus on adolescents, ages 13 to 18 years old. The Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research was an important resource to search for funding organization. RGK Foundation is an independent foundation that was establish in 1966 by Ronya and George Kozmetsky. The Foundation promotes the well-being of children, youth and families in needy communities. The Foundations interest within Community include a broad range of human services, community improvement, abuse prevention, and youth.

Methods The needs assessment information was found through library journals, government websites, statistical data, general Internet search, and the host agency. The adolescent dating violence educational program required a budget of 181,000. The funds will go toward direct and indirect costs, including salaries and benefits for program staff along with funds for the rental facilities, utilities, and supplies for the period of 1year to educate 300 adolescents. The grant will include a program supervisor, social worker, and case manager.

Grant Proposal The purpose of this project is to seek funding for an educational prevention program that will provide adolescents with the appropriate tools and hand-on skills to prevent dating violence. The population served are adolescents in the Long Beach area and nearby cities such as Carson, Lakewood, Cypress, Los Alamitos, Compton, Paramount, Bellflower, and Artesia in California. The educational program will include counseling group, and resources. The proposed program will educate adolescents in safe and healthy ways to date and the warning signs and behaviors associated with dating violence.

Grant Proposal Objectives and Evaluation To give adolescents the opportunity to meet in a safe environment to learn about dating violence and share current or past experiences with dating relationships To help adolescents express their feelings and thoughts about dating violence and/or dating relationships To educate adolescents on healthy ways to interact with peers and/or dating partners. At the completion of the program, adolescents will be able to recognize a healthy relationship versus an unhealthy relationship. Adolescents will have the knowledge needed to educate family members or friends seeking help if they are involved in an unhealthy relationship where they are victim or perpetrator of dating violence. The program will be evaluated by pre-test and post-test questionnaire.

Lessons Learned/Implications for Social Work The grant writing process allowed the grant writer to research and understand the issues that manifest in adolescents who are victimized or those who are the perpetrators of dating violence. The grant writer learned that it requires significant time and research to identify an available funding source that would match the needs of the proposed program. Social workers can make a difference by bring awareness and educating the community, schools, and CPS offices on how to stop or prevent dating violence among adolescents. As social workers striving to improve the quality of life for their clients, it is important to continue advocating for those who do not have a voice through education.

Reference Connolly, J., Friendlander, L., Pepler, D., Craig, W., & Laporte, L. (2010). The ecology of adolescent dating aggression: Attitudes, relationship, media use, and socio-demographic risk factors. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 19, Foshee, V.A., Bauman, K.E., Ennett, S.T., Suchindran, C., Benefield, T., & Linder, G.F. (2005). Assessing the effects of dating violence prevention program safe dates using random coefficient regression modeling. Prevention Science, 6(3), Wekerle, C., Tanaka, M. (2010). Adolescent dating violence research and violence prevention: An opportunity to support health outcomes. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 19, Wolfe, D.A., Crooks, C., Jaffe, P., Chiodo, D., Hughes, R., Ellis, W., Stitt, L., & Donner, A. (2009). A school-based program to prevent adolescent dating violence. American Medical Association, 163(8), Zurbriggen, E. (2009). Understanding and preventing adolescent dating violence: The importance of developmental, sociocultural, and gendered perspectives. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 33,