Healthy Roots

Free healthy relationships & dating violence education for youth

Empowering youth to build futures free from violence

A powerful educational series for young people that is designed to promote healthy relationships and reduce teen dating violence.

Healthy Roots

YWCA Spokane's Healthy Roots program is a free and 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 are Saying

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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. 

Blog

Dec 13, 2024 Dec 13 @ 5:40 pm

A Collaborative Victory for Community Safety: How YWCA Spokane’s Domestic Violence Task Force Is Saving Lives

At YWCA Spokane, our commitment to empowering survivors and creating a safer community is brought to life through the work of the Spokane Regional Domestic Violence Task Force. This dynamic coalition brings together YWCA Spokane legal advocates, the Spokane Police…

Nov 5, 2024 Dec 13 @ 5:40 pm

Mission Moment – Self-Care Summit

About the Summit Since 2022, YWCA Spokane has been offering youth in the community the opportunity to connect, learn, and grow at the Youth Self-Care Summit. This is a unique opportunity for young people to embrace self-love, connection, and personal…

Feb 23, 2024 Dec 13 @ 5:40 pm

Recap | Pathways Forward: Youth Self-Regulation

A conversation about self-regulation and social emotional learning centered on youth. View Recording On February 21, 2024, Caroline Mark (YWCA Spokane) moderated a powerful Pathways Forward conversation, between Rumyana Kudeva (SRHD) and Jaime Stacy (SWAG), about self-regulation and social emotional…

Events

Oct 29, 2024 Dec 14 @ 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm

2024 Youth Self-Care Summit

Dec 10, 2024 Jan 14, 2025 @ 10:00 am - 11:30 am

DV 101 Training: Recognize. Respond. Refer.

Join YWCA Spokane for this important free, virtual training on January 14th at 10:00am. Learn more about intimate partner domestic violence, how to help a friend, and about YWCA Spokane’s free and confidential services.

Dec 9, 2024 Jan 20, 2025 @ 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Rally & March

January 20, 2025 Spokane Convention Center  Join us! Open to the community, feel free to march with YWCA. Details to come.