Practice-based Training Builds Awareness and Skills Relating to Teen Dating Violence

Teen dating violence has become a growing epidemic that affects millions of youths in the United States. The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 1 in 12 high school students have experienced physical and/or sexual dating violence. Female students and students in the LGBTQ+ community are at greater risk and experience higher rates of dating violence. 

Dating violence is considered an adverse childhood experience (ACE), which has profound impacts on health and well-being. To build awareness, Kognito has developed a practice-based training that gives educators the knowledge and skills to identify the different forms of dating violence and gain the confidence to have a trauma-informed disclosure conversation with a student. Learn more about our newest training, Dating Violence Awareness for Educators. 

The need for educator training on this topic 

Many states require educators and school staff to build knowledge and skills related to addressing the growing issue of dating violence. Educators are in a unique position to identify and prevent teen dating violence. As trusted adults, educators can empower students to lead healthy lives and establish healthy relationships. 

Physical dating violence affects about 1 in 11 female teens and 1 in 14 male teens every year. Aside from physical violence, teen dating violence also includes sexual violence, psychological aggression, and/or stalking. This can take place in person or online.  

This epidemic doesn’t just end in adolescence. A study by the National Institute of Justice found that those who experienced dating violence as teens reported more episodes of relationship violence into young adulthood. This emphasizes the importance of being able to identify the signs of an abusive relationship and to know how to have a trauma-informed conversation with a teen who may be experiencing dating violence.

Introducing Dating Violence Awareness for Educators

Our new training, Dating Violence Awareness for Educators, addresses this growing epidemic among teenagers and provides school staff with the skills needed to identify if a student is experiencing any form of relationship abuse. This product focuses on different forms of dating violence, including the less obvious forms of abuse in a relationship, such as manipulation; control; verbal, mental, and emotional abuse; and crossing inappropriate physical and emotional boundaries. 

Other learning objectives include: 

• Gaining or refining an understanding of abusive behaviors in a relationship 
• Exploring and practicing strategies and techniques for supportive conversations with students or coworkers 
• Determining the differences between the characteristics of healthy versus unhealthy relationships
• Identifying local and national resources for referral or reporting 

Through conversation practice, this training teaches learners how to identify, approach, and refer a student experiencing dating violence to the appropriate resources. Educators and staff who experience this product will explore strategies for conducting supportive conversations with students or coworkers while receiving continuous feedback on the choices made during the simulation.

Dating Violence Awareness for Educators joins the Violence Prevention Suite

This training joins our suite of products that offers educators a scalable, community-based approach to upstream violence prevention. Per the CDC, research has demonstrated that prevention efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, community members, and students can reduce violence and improve the school environment. Learn more about the Violence Prevention Suite here. 

In addition to joining the Violence Prevention Suite, Dating Violence Awareness for Educators is part of our Educators & Staff Bundle, which fosters a culture of care in school districts. Through these simulations, districts can equip their educators and staff with the communication techniques needed to lead meaningful and impactful conversations with students. According to a Kognito survey, 95% of educators recommend this experiential learning to colleagues. 

Learn more about Dating Violence Awareness for Educators by contacting us or requesting a personalized demo.