BWRI’s Community Education is an exciting program within BWRI that is addressing the issue of relationship violence through education within schools, as well as the general community. Teaching children of all ages what is appropriate behavior in relationships, particularly if the children have had no experience with nonviolent relationships, is imperative. Considering the prevalence of violence in our society, information and education, no matter how limited, is a sound beginning for children to counteract the continuous violent messages students, at all age levels, experience. With education children will access valuable information and skills on non-violent communication. Adolescents, teenagers and adults are able to learn what a healthy relationship entails and will be better able to recognize the early warning signs of abuse and the effects that it has on themselves and their families. The Community Education Program is also vital resource in making the community aware of the services BWRI offers should they need to access them

Throughout the year, this program coordinates events including trainings, workshops, fundraisers, agency displays, art and/or memorial exhibits, police appreciation ceremonies, library displays, and purple ribbon campaigns. The events are publicized utilizing local media including radio, newspapers and public access television. In addition, Voices Rising is a quarterly newsletter produced by the Community Education program.

The Community Education program is responsible for outreach in the community, supplying educational materials to local businesses and agencies, as well as delivering presentations on domestic violence. For presentations, the content and material is tailored in intensity and length to meet the needs of a particular audience. Presentation topics include: Understanding the Effects and Warning Signs of Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence and Its Effects on Children, as well as an overview of agency services and sensitivity recommendations.

Violence remains a serious social issue among children. Children who witness domestic violence in their home are impacted on a physical, as well as an emotional level. Violence may affect a student’s school performance and/or cause them to victimize other students during school hours. Teen dating violence is now as serious a problem as adult partner violence. A 2001 Massachusetts’s study from Harvard University revealed that one in five female students reported experiencing sexual and/or physical violence in their relationships by the time they graduated from high school.

BWRI is committed to working with each of our local schools to provide the best resources available to promote non-violence and healthy relationships at no charge.

The BWRI School Violence Prevention Program presented to over 12,000 students in 13 school districts during the 2003-2004 school year. BWRI’s curriculums are available to school districts throughout the North Central Massachusetts area. The community educators present to classes K-12. Curriculums are currently centered on two main themes:

Bullying

The school violence prevention program in elementary schools varies by the school and/or district. Each coordinated visit includes one to two sessions with each classroom. When scheduling allows, a follow up visit is coordinated in the following semester. Again, the repeat visit will consist of one to two sessions with each classroom. Bullying, Hands Are Not For Hitting and Conflict Resolution curriculums are offered for kindergarten through grade six. The curriculums address the issues that students are currently facing in schools and their community. Students learn what a good friend is, the difference between joking and bullying, as well as effective and nonviolent conflict resolution techniques. The curriculums all utilize group discussion, games, stories and role-play. The education program focuses on empowering students to respond to negative behaviors in healthy, non-violent ways.

Healthy Relationships/Teen Dating Violence

Middle / High School students will generally have a two to three part curriculum. Healthy Relationship / Teen Dating Violence curriculums are tailored to each grade level and/or school. Through videos, group discussion, role-play, games and lecture, the students learn and talk about what is healthy and acceptable in relationships, the importance of establishing boundaries and when and how to end a relationship. The curriculum also focuses on when relationships turn dangerous and unhealthy, how to recognize abuse, how to talk to friends who are abused/abusive and how to seek help should they ever be in an abusive relationship. Some high schools also coordinate large format presentations for which all students, or a large portion of the population, are present.

Some high schools have health fairs at which the agency is represented. BWRI also sets up displays, such as An Empty Place at the Table, at high schools for students to view. The education program serves as a technical coordinator/advisor for area school districts’ Teen Dating Violence Day (which include dramatic presentations, panel discussions and small group discussions).

In 2005, BWRI’s Community Education program designed a presentation for Bullying and Conflict Resolution for elementary school parents/staff. The presentation has received very positive feedback from those who have participated. BWRI finds this to be a very important component in education and looks forward to further usage throughout the region, in addition to creation of other parent presentation models.

This is what students and teachers have to say about BWRI’s programs:

“It all made me feel better about myself, because I now know what to do when I am in trouble with harassment and bullying.”
Student, age 11, Sky View Middle School

“I thought it was incredibly meaningful”
Student, age 16, Fitchburg High School

“This is vital info…this is a vital resource.”
Ann O’Connell, teacher, Grade 3, Clinton Elementary School

“It was educational and dealt with in a realistic, approachable way… I’m sure it made them scrutinize what is acceptable in relationships.”
Mark Nivard, teacher, English/Health, Oakmont Regional H.S.

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Nicholas Howe, Education Coordinator, at 978.537.2306 x 19 or email nhowe@bwri.com.