Trauma, Teen Dating Violence and Academic Achievement: What Can We Do?
Format
Individual Presentation
First Presenter's Institution
The Empowerment House
Second Presenter's Institution
The Still Standing Foundation
Third Presenter's Institution
NA
Fourth Presenter's Institution
NA
Fifth Presenter's Institution
NA
Location
Sloane
Strand #1
Safety & Violence Prevention
Strand #2
Social & Emotional Skills
Relevance
This topic focuses on the psychological, emotional, physical and social effects that teen dating violence has on youth and how this trauma impacts the academic achievement of the students. Educators will learn specifics about the scope of the problem and unique evidence-based strategies/techniques that will help them to assist students who have been traumatized in these unhealthy and violent relationships. This is directly related to the Safety & Violence Prevention and the Social & Emotional Skills strands
Brief Program Description
Teen Dating Violence is a topic that is seldom addressed when discussion traumatic experiences of students. In this session we will provide details about the psychological, emotional, physical and social effects that it has on youth and how this about trauma ultimately impact the academic achievement and overall well-being of the students. Educators will learn specifics about the scope of the problem and unique evidence based strategies/techniques that may be used to assist students who have been traumatized and improve their academic achievement levels.
Summary
This session is designed to share the scope, trauma and impact of unhealthy relationships and teen dating violence on youth and their academic achievement. Through the introduction of an evidence based practical model designed to teach educators how to assist these students, the presenters will share methods, strategies and techniques with the participants to help them create practices to help the students.
Teen Dating Violence is often not directly addressed in many schools and they do not offer programs for the youth in grades 6-12 that specifically address the needs of this population. This session will share viable options for schools to create programs that will directly help these students.
This topic is timely, relevant and necessary in an educational era that recognizes the importance of ensuring that students remain mentally and physically healthy to maintain strong academic achievement levels. Unfortunately many educators do not understand or are unaware of the statistics surrounding these traumatized youth in crisis.
The program that will be presented is based on the CDC's evidence-based approach:
CDC uses a four-step approach to address public health problems like dating violence.
Step 1: Define the problem: This step focuses on learning the breadth and depth of the problem and the population it affects. The CDC learns about a problem by gathering and studying data.
Step 2: Identify risk and protective factors: This step focuses on recognizing and understanding why the behavior is occurring. The CDC conducts and supports research to answer this question.
Step 3: Develop and test prevention strategies: Using information gathered in research, CDC develops and evaluates strategies to prevent violence. This session will present examples of strategies used in a 6-week program designed to address teen dating violence.
Step 4: Ensure widespread adoption: In this final step, CDC shares the best prevention strategies and the information shared in this presentation is also an attempt to do so.
http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/teen-dating-violence-factsheet-a.pdf
Evidence
- Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year.
- One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence.
- One in 10 high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend.
- Approximately one in five high school girls has been physically or sexually abused by a dating partner.
- Nearly 80% of girls who have been victims of physical abuse in their dating relationships continue to date the abuser.
- Nearly 20% of teen girls who have been in a relationship said that their boyfriend had threatened violence or self-harm in the event of a break-up. http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/TeenDatingAbuse.htm
Based on the above-mentioned statistics Teen Dating Violence is connected to trauma, academic achievement, unhealthy relationships and at-risk teen behavior. The program that we developed is based upon the data noted above and has been delivered to students in grades 6-12. The participants were students who were in the care of the Department of Family and Children Services, Department of Public Health and several public schools.
In order to prevent violence and ensure the safety of all children and youth educators must begin to educate the youth and offer services to youth affected by Teen Dating Violence. The program presented in this session achieves that goal. It imperative that this behavior is addressed because violent behavior of this sort typically begins at or around age 12.
This presentation is also related to the Mental and Physical Health of students because youth that are involved in unhealthy relationships that involve violence are impacted mentally and physically and have traumatic effects on the student. It is a "long road" to recovery that demands in-depth counseling, support, and perhaps therapeutic strategies to assist the youth in the healing process. This session will address all of the above.
Many educators and adults interested in students are unaware of these statistics and are not trained to provide the support that the students need. This presentation is the first step in that direction because the main elements of Teen Dating Violence are seldom included in professional development series or programs in schools.
Evidence
Qualitative and quantitative data have been collected from students who have participated in the twelve lesson curriculum and from educators who have attended a professional development workshop.
Overall results indicated an increased knowledge base about the characteristics of teen dating violence and how to create an effective program to address the effects of it.
Biographical Sketch
Educational Consultant, Youth Advocate, Multiple Bestselling Author and Speaker, Dr. Adair White-johnson (affectionately known as "Dr. Adair") is a leading authority on motivating, inspiring and empowering individuals to move towards positive change, become resilient and to bounce back after hitting rock bottom.
Dr. Adair decided to retire from serving as a Professional School Counselor after 26 years so she could “follow her next dream.” She then created The Empowerment House where she coaches educators, teens and their parents through life changes. She teaches them how to operate and thrive in spite of their circumstances and shares techniques that help them empower themselves to “push through the pain” in their lives. As the creator of The BELIEVE and GO HARD systems for teens, she imparts strategies that focus on leadership skills, overcoming odds, controlling anger, creating healthy balances, forgiving techniques, building dreams and reaching destiny points.
In addition, Dr. Adair created The Johnson Tribe Publishing House (JTP), a full-service agency that empowers, engages, inspires, motivates, promotes and teaches authors the skills of writing and publishing their books.
A State University of New York at Buffalo graduate who earned a Ph.D., a Certificate of Advanced Studies and a Master’s degree, Dr. Adair has provided motivational, creative and unique counseling services for over thirty years. She also created an empowerment and resiliency curriculum for teens. She has also collaborated with The Still Standing Foundation to create “Teen Dating Violence, Unhealthy Relationships, and Academic Achievement: What’s the Connection?” This is a comprehensive and informative counseling program for youth. As a Professional School Counselor of the Year and Writer of the Year recipient, Dr. Adair has also been featured in Black Enterprise, Rolling Out, POSE and BOLD magazines, several national and international radio shows and is the recipient of several academic and civic awards.
As the author of multiple books for teens and adults and teens, Dr. Adair focuses on teaching others how to become empowered, resilient and ready to move forward in their lives positively. Her most recent books are “21 Ways to Get Over It for Teens” and “21 Ways to Get Over It for Adults.” The teen book has an accompanying curriculum and journal workbook.
Dr. Adair has been married for twenty-seven years, is the proud mother of five children and loves watching soap operas. Her life mantra is “I am. I can. I will. I do.” and she seeks to share this positive outlook on every person she meets.
Tamiko Lowry-Pugh
Tamiko Lowry-Pugh often referred to as "The Empowering Diva" is the voice for Women's Empowerment. As the CEO of Tamiko Lowry LLC and The founder of The Still Standing Foundation, she has constructed a powerful movement dedicated to the empowerment and personal development of women across the world. Tamiko is the epitome of her aptly named non-profit, The Still Standing Foundation—an organization that provides a positive outlet for victims of domestic violence to become survivors, with a focus on domestic violence awareness, prevention, and advocacy. She is a compassionate mentor and friend, an enthusiastic leader, and visionary.
Tamiko is a member of The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., MECCA Chapter where she serves as the Public Policy Chair and an active member of Women In The Spotlight GoinGlobal. Over the years she has received many awards and recognitions including The 2013 Atlanta Rising Star Award for her work with the Still Standing Foundation. Most recently Tamiko received the Atlanta Black History Makers Award as well as the Unsung Heroine Award for her dedication to the fight to end domestic violence, just to name a few.
Tamiko earned her Business degree from Colorado Technical University. She has completed Domestic Violence Advocacy training with the Georgia Coalition of Domestic Violence and obtained a certification in Teen Dating Violence Awareness which allows her to teach and train Domestic Violence Awareness workshops throughout the country. After attending the International Coaching and Science Research Institute she obtained certifications as a Certified Life Coach and Public Speaker/Master Communicator.
As a 2x Bestselling author, Speaker, Certified Empowerment Coach, and Domestic Violence Advocate, Tamiko believes that empowerment comes from within and can be achieved by honoring yourself, your values, and expressing your talents and gifts.
Tamiko resides in Atlanta, GA with her husband, Minister Kenny Pugh and 2 children, Destiny & Michael.
Keyword Descriptors
Trauma, Teen dating, Violence, Abuse, Domestic Violence, Academic achievement
Presentation Year
2018
Start Date
3-6-2018 10:15 AM
End Date
3-6-2018 11:30 AM
Recommended Citation
White-johnson, Adair F. and Lowry-Pugh, Tamiko, "Trauma, Teen Dating Violence and Academic Achievement: What Can We Do?" (2018). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 37.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2018/2018/37
Trauma, Teen Dating Violence and Academic Achievement: What Can We Do?
Sloane
Teen Dating Violence is a topic that is seldom addressed when discussion traumatic experiences of students. In this session we will provide details about the psychological, emotional, physical and social effects that it has on youth and how this about trauma ultimately impact the academic achievement and overall well-being of the students. Educators will learn specifics about the scope of the problem and unique evidence based strategies/techniques that may be used to assist students who have been traumatized and improve their academic achievement levels.
