School Policy: Promoting Healthy Relationships at School Teen Dating Violence Prevention: Why Middle School Matters July 20, 2010 Barri Rosenbluth, SafePlace, Austin

Harassment “SafePlace is committed to providing a workplace free of harassment…Report any incident of harassment immediately to the Human Resource Director. The Human Resource Director must report any and all claims of harassment to the Executive Director, who will investigate all such claims and take corrective action as necessary...” (SafePlace Employee Manual, 2010)

Making a Case for School Policy Inform students and parents of their rights and responsibilities. Inform students and parents of their rights and responsibilities. Make it easier for students to report harassment or abuse. Make it easier for students to report harassment or abuse. Provide a protocol for administrators. Provide a protocol for administrators. Increase safety for targeted students. Increase safety for targeted students. Prevent further perpetration. Prevent further perpetration. Promote healthy relationships through educational programs for students, parents, and school personnel. Promote healthy relationships through educational programs for students, parents, and school personnel. Improve school climate. Improve school climate.

Local Policy Development 1989-SafePlace begins providing services in AISD SafePlace begins providing services in AISD Primary prevention initiative funded by CDC includes policy development in local schools Primary prevention initiative funded by CDC includes policy development in local schools AISD convenes task force to develop district- wide bullying policy following serious incident AISD convenes task force to develop district- wide bullying policy following serious incident Ortralla Mosley killed at local high school by ex- boyfriend-Title IX lawsuit Ortralla Mosley killed at local high school by ex- boyfriend-Title IX lawsuit AISD policy expanded to address dating violence, sexual harassment and bullying AISD policy expanded to address dating violence, sexual harassment and bullying TX passes law requiring schools to address TDV becoming 1 st of 10 states TX passes law requiring schools to address TDV becoming 1 st of 10 states.

Austin ISD Policy Concerning Dating Violence, Sexual Harassment and Bullying Notice of parent and student rights Notice of parent and student rights Student complaint form Student complaint form Student-on-student altercation response chart Student-on-student altercation response chart Stay away agreement Stay away agreement Embedded into existing policy and student code of conduct Embedded into existing policy and student code of conduct

Notice of Parent and Student Rights “AISD is committed to providing a positive learning environment for all students that enhances personal safety and promotes respect, dignity and equality among students. High standards are expected for both academic achievement and for behavior…AISD strives to ensure that all of its students and employees are free from bullying and harassment including violence in students’ relationships.” “AISD is committed to providing a positive learning environment for all students that enhances personal safety and promotes respect, dignity and equality among students. High standards are expected for both academic achievement and for behavior…AISD strives to ensure that all of its students and employees are free from bullying and harassment including violence in students’ relationships.”

Expect Respect Program School-based support groups School-based support groups Youth leadership training Youth leadership training School-wide policy, training, prevention education School-wide policy, training, prevention education Community collaborations-Start Strong Austin! Community collaborations-Start Strong Austin!

Texas Teen Dating Violence Law TEC (2007) School policy must address: School policy must address: Definition of dating violence Definition of dating violence Safety planning Safety planning Enforcement of protective orders Enforcement of protective orders School-based alternatives to protective orders School-based alternatives to protective orders Training for teachers and administrators Training for teachers and administrators Counseling for affected students Counseling for affected students Awareness education for students and parents. Awareness education for students and parents.

Start Strong National Model School Policy Objectives 1. To provide a model policy for middle schools that emphasizes primary prevention of teen dating abuse 2. To integrate dating abuse prevention strategies into positive school environment initiatives 3. To engage students, parents, and educators in modeling, teaching, and promoting healthy relationships

National Model School Policy Essential Elements Prevention Coordinator Curriculum on healthy relationships Training for school personnel Parent engagement Youth leadership Intervention strategies

Policy: Part of Social Change

Thank You! Barri Rosenbluth (512)