According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 3 teens report experiencing verbal, emotional, or physical abuse in dating relationships and 1 in 6 boys and 1 in 4 girls are sexually assaulted before the age of 18.

​

Local data indicates an even greater prevalence of dating abuse among Arizona youth than reported on the national survey. Between 2013 and 2017, over 20,000 Maricopa County Arizona high school freshman completed BLOOM365’s anonymous prevalence survey with 58% reporting experiencing dating abuse victimization and 32% reporting causing verbal, emotional, physical or sexual harm in an interpersonal relationship.

 

Since 2013, bloom365 has partnered with schools within the Phoenix, Arizona metro area to educate students on the warning signs and root causes of teen dating violence, provide age appropriate interventions to teens experiencing abuse and violence and activate students as peer advocates and activists to create school communities that value empathy, respect, kindness, equality, consent, safety and peace as the standard. 

 

Our work alleviates the barriers youth face with accessing prevention and intervention resources, improves the safety and well-being of youth who have experienced victimization, and provides opportunities for teens to activate as peer advocates. 

 

Outcome results from pre/post evaluations indicate that 75% or more of the teens who complete our multi-dose, age relevant curricula increase their knowledge and understanding of:
 

• The red flags and early warning signs of abuse

• Caring v. controlling behaviors

• Root causes and risk factors of teen dating violence

• The influence of oppressive systems on power and control based violence

• Victim-blaming language and attitudes

• Ways to safely navigate out of an abusive relationship

• Communicating with "I" statements to resolve conflicts

• Where to get help or how to help a friend

• Coping strategies

• Consent v. coercion

• Proactive and reactive bystander empowerment 

 

Based on this data, as well as a 2014-2015 T1/T2 pre/post survey evaluation conducted by the Arizona State University Morrison Institute for Public Policy, we know that our teen relevant education programs work and are effective for laying the groundwork for healthy relationship building and real time interventions for teens who are currently experiencing abuse or who are showing signs of becoming a perpetrator.

​

For potential early adopter and school partners who would like to learn about the many ways we measure impact and the research behind our methodologies, we welcome the opportunity to connect with you via one of our monthly info sessions. CONTACT US for a list of upcoming calls.

​

​

Our work significantly impacts the community by transforming "wilting" relationship norms to "blooming" and by assuring that teen dating abuse and sexual violence prevention and healthy relationship skill building become a standard in youth education everywhere.

​