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Initial Content Development

Respectful Futures—Shaping Healthy Relationships—Initial Content Development

As an initial step, we completed a scan of programs and courses which aim to offer similar learning outcomes.  The scan showed no clear agreement as to what works best, with whom, and under what circumstances; as a result program evaluation needed to be an integral part of this planned prevention program.  We drew upon the best available research evidence, and the expertise of professionals and practitioners to arrive at the key foundational topics.  The following topics were identified for potential inclusion:

  • The link between THINKING, FEELING and BEHAVIOUR
  • Personal Rights
  • The need to control - description, cause and consequence               
  • Anger Management
  • Personal needs (sleep, nutrition, security)          
  • Jealousy
  • Self-esteem - how do we get it, and how do we lose it
  • Problem solving skills      
  • Sexual assault - description and prevention
  • Substance use and abuse
  • Feelings and Emotion
  • How to de-escalate a conflict
  • Defining respectful relationships
  • Defining and understanding dating abuse
  • Sexual stereotypes and the impact
  • Communication skills
  • Culture and the acceptance of abuse
  • Sexuality and intimacy
  • Stress reduction and relaxation techniques
  • Cyber bullying
  • Phone, texting and internet safety and conduct
  • Gender stereotyping
  • How to stop your/your friend's abusive behaviour
  • Pornography


We then proposed developing six modules which would include the following concepts:

  1. Building relationships through better communication
  2. Characteristics of healthy relationships
  3. Impacts of unhealthy relationships
  4. Understanding and managing anger
  5. Exploring the links between thinking, feeling and behaviour
  6. Learning how to develop healthy relationships

The proposed modules include many of the suggested topics identified in the literature scan, and could be developed to be age appropriate.  

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