Type of services provided:
Expect Respect works at the forefront of prevention and early intervention to break the cycle of abuse in children’s lives and prevent violence from happening in the first place. Expect Respect is built on an ecological, trauma-informed model that supports vulnerable youth who have already been exposed to violence, mobilizes youth leaders, and promotes safe schools and communities. Our primary program components and resources include:
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- School-based support groups and counseling
- Youth leadership development
- Educational theater
- The Expect Respect® program manual
- Resources for educators.
The Expect Respect team can support you in adapting the program to your community.
Expect Respect support groups provide a safe environment to increase emotion regulation and communication skills, identify qualities of healthy relationships, challenge unhealthy gender norms, learn skills for supportive peer and dating relationships, and experience a sense of belonging and connection.
In secondary schools, licensed counselors and trained facilitators provide 24 weekly curriculum-based sessions; in elementary schools the curriculum consists of 16 sessions. In addition, individual counseling and advocacy are provided to help keep children safe, healthy, and in school. All services are provided during the school day and are free and confidential. Expect Respect groups support students who:
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- Have experienced any form of violence or abuse
- Are involved in unhealthy peer or dating relationships
- Have difficulty managing anger
- Are involved in bullying or sexual harassment
- Worry about making their partner angry or jealous
- Use alcohol or drugs
- Are pregnant or parenting
- Appear socially isolated from peers
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Program setting:
Community-based agency, correctional, domestic violence shelter, family service agencies, foster care, health services, mental health setting, residential, and/or school.
Length of program/number of sessions:
24 weeks for the secondary support groups and 16 sessions for the elementary support groups.
Type(s) of trauma/concerns addressed:
Domestic violence, child abuse, sexual abuse, community violence, neglect, and teen dating violence.
Education level of providers:
While there is no education level requirement, program implementers must have a strong background in understanding the dynamics of domestic violence and sexual abuse. The program is best implemented by a DV/SA advocate. Expect Respect prefers a licensed counselor or social worker to lead the support group component, and at a minimum requires this work to be supervised by a licensed professional.
Additional information:
The socio-ecological comprehensive Expect Respect model includes:
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- Community Member and Campus Engagement to create safer and more welcoming environments by improving response and prevention efforts on campus.
- Youth Leadership Initiatives to influence positive social norms when it comes to healthy relationships by combining the arts and activism
- Support Groups to provide confidential, supportive spaces for young people who have been exposed to, experienced, and/or witnessed violence.
Unique/Innovative Characteristics:
Expect Respect adapted curriculum sessions to Nearpod to make the program accessible virtually in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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