This kit, published in 1998, is a tool aimed at teaching pre- and pubescent students, from grades 5 to 8, the knowledge required to choose and maintain healthy dating relationships. In doing so, our goal is to significantly reduce, and eventually eradicate, violence in relationships. We hope to provide students in this age category with basic information to help them treat others with respect. We trust these ideas will be transferred into their dating relationships as well as other relationships they choose to develop. By providing a non-threatening forum, we anticipate open and frank discussion. We sought out, viewed and studied a multitude of programs, but found that very few addressed these topics from a dating perspective. We feel we have something UNIQUE.
The kit was updated in 2002 to include information on gay/lesbian bullying. A research project concluded in 2003 demonstrates that IUTM is effective in helping the target age group learn what assertive behaviours or abusive attitudes and behaviours are. The research document is available on request.
We had two primary goals when we embarked on this project:
We worked diligently to make this kit easy to understand and straight forward. Our objective is to have a positive message, to make it fun and interactive. A recently completed evaluation involving some 800 students who participated in the program demonstrates its usefulness in making students more aware of how to be in healthy relationships, as well as affecting attitudes about healthy relationships. For more information, visit our website at www.coalitionagainstabuse.com, or contact us by phone or email.
One of the Coalition’s first projects was entitled Love Without Violence. Its’ focus is to educate teens on the question of abuse in relationships through a program presented in local high schools. This project was organized by C.A.A.R. following a suggestion made by two Moncton Police Officers. They were concerned with the increase in date rape and violence in relationships among the high school population. When intervening in these situations, police officers felt most teens lacked the knowledge about what constituted consensual sex, had unhealthy attitudes about their respective roles (male/female), and the use of violence in relationships was far too frequent.  They also recognized the need to address the issue of ignorance about services available in the community for both victims and perpetrators. As a result, the Coalition initially opted to intervene at the high school level. Members of the Coalition formed a sub-committee responsible for organizing this school project. Love Without Violence was offered in several high schools and junior high schools. Deemed a tremendous success it was published as a kit in 1994. The program is still being presented and students in grades 9 to 12 continue to emphasize the need for this information at the pre-dating level. Students in grades 5 to 8 need to know HOW to Build Healthy Relationships. It’s Up To Me was developed to respond to their needs.
The Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre for Research is completed an evaluation of “Dating Violence Education and Prevention” programs with the purpose of developing and recommending a provincial strategy to the Department of Education. One of programs being evaluated is Love Without Violence.
Love without Violence is a prevention program aimed at educating and informing teenagers on the issues of violence in dating relationships. Included in the kit is everything you would need to put this presentation on in your school, youth group or home.
The focus of Love Without Violence is prevention, education, information, and awareness. The purpose of this program is to provide our teenagers with tools that will alter unhealthy views on abusive relationships and violence in general. They will be able to recognize the warning signs of abuse and, therefore, be in a better position to get out of the relationship before more serious forms of abuse occur. They will know where to go for help and how to help not only themselves, but also their friends. The kit was designed to be easy to access and deliver.
We are of the opinion that our primary efforts should be targeted towards prevention and education so disclosure, reporting, and finally, intervention can take place.
The outreach worker provides a number of presentations, workshops, and kiosks to schools and various work and community groups. Topics for schools include: Bullying and respect with a special attention to cyber bullying (Grade 5-6), healthy relationships, consent and coercion (Grades 7-9) and dating violence and sexual assault (Grades 10+). Workshops and presentations for other community groups and workplaces vary depending on request and can include such topics as domestic violence, sexual assault, workplace harassment, and elder abuse, to name but a few. C.A.A.R. and the Outreach worker program is also available to set up a kiosk at your event.
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