Fostering Resilience: Tools for Healthy Teen Relationships
As students head back to school, it's an opportune time to discuss the importance of healthy relationships. Unhealthy relationships can inflict lasting damage, but a strong foundation in resilience can help mitigate these effects. Resilience, defined as the ability to adapt well to challenges, adversity, or trauma, is a skill that must be taught and nurtured.
The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
In the mid-1990s, the CDC and Kaiser Permanente conducted a groundbreaking study involving 17,000 participants to examine the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The study revealed a direct link between childhood trauma and negative health outcomes, chronic diseases, incarceration, and employment challenges. Domestic violence, one of the social determinants of health, profoundly affects children, whether experienced directly or second-hand. The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes that ACEs influence virtually every aspect of a child's life, a reality that the staff at Steps to Hope (STH) encounters daily.
Resources for Teens
To support teens, STH offers several resources. One useful tool is a dating quiz available on our website under Learn More-Resources for Teens. This quiz helps teens evaluate whether their relationship is healthy. Additionally, our Tips for Safe Dating section provides practical advice for early-stage dating, such as double-dating, staying in public places, and trusting one's instincts.
Supporting Friends in Toxic Relationships
Teens often witness their friends in toxic relationships and may feel powerless to help. Our Learn More – Start a Conversation section offers tools and guidance for teens to support their friends and navigate these complex situations.
Professional Support and Counseling
At the heart of our mission is the desire for teens to have positive dating experiences and the confidence to seek help if needed. Professional counseling, available for free through STH, equips children of all ages with coping tools and resilience-building strategies. This consistent support leads to well-balanced individuals who can navigate adversity effectively.
For more information on teen dating and available resources, visit our website and call 828-894-2340. Steps to Hope is dedicated to serving the community by providing essential support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Polk County, NC, and Upstate SC.