Healthy Roots
YWCA Spokane's Healthy Roots program is a customizable educational series that is designed to:
- Empower youth to engage in constructive conversations about healthy and unhealthy behaviors
- Support youth in identifying unhealthy/abusive relationships
- Normalize conversations about relationship dynamics among youth and with caregivers
- Help youth identify key people they can feel safe talking to about relationship dynamics
You likely know and care about a young person who is or will be impacted by an abusive relationship.
Engaging in constructive conversations about what healthy relationships are supposed to look like while receiving guidance on how to identify unhealthy behaviors can make a tremendous difference in a young person’s life. It can break generational cycles of trauma and help to set a young person up to have a healthier future.
It is important to normalize conversations about relationship dynamics so youth feel more comfortable reaching out when they need help. It also increases their capacity to support their peers when they recognize signs of an unhealthy or abusive relationship.
Youth can expect to gain a deeper understanding of both healthy and unhealthy relationships through a comprehensive and interactive learning experience.
They will explore various types of relationships, learn to identify key characteristics of healthy relationships such as respect, trust, and effective communication, and recognize signs of unhealthy dynamics. The curriculum emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, self-esteem, consent, and boundaries, equipping students with the knowledge to navigate relationships confidently and safely.
Students will develop essential life skills that empower them to build and maintain healthy relationships. The curriculum is designed to create a safe and supportive environment, ensuring confidentiality and a non-judgmental atmosphere.
Each series can be customized to include topics from the below list that are most meaningful for the youth to discuss.
- Boundaries
- Caring relationships
- Cycles of abuse
- Dating abuse
- Gender roles
- Gender violence
- Healthy conflict resolution
- Healthy relationship characteristics
- Helping a loved one
- Power and control wheels
- Respect and consent
- Relationship Spectrum
- Safety planning
- Self-identity
- Setting Boundaries
- Why people abuse
- Why people stay
Our facilitators do not provide sex education or one-on-one advocacy. They do not promote or push dating. They simply offer skills to foster healthy relationships while dating or with a partner, friend, or family member.
What Youth Say About Healthy Roots
Teen Dating Violence As shared by LoveisRespect.org
- 1 in 3 U.S. teens will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they're in a relationship with before they become adults.
- Nearly half (43%) of U.S. college women report experiencing violent or abusive dating behaviors.
Empower youth to build futures free from violence
If you are passionate about supporting the health and wellbeing of our community's young people and would like to help bring back YWCA Spokane's Healthy Roots programming, please contact Erica Schreiber, Director of Community Engagement, by emailing ericas@ywcaspokane.org.