Teen Dating 101 Series Overview
The Teen Dating 101 Series is designed for young teens ages 12 and up. Before the first session, we will hold a parent/caregiver information session so that parents and caregivers may get more details about the curriculum, meet the facilitators, and ask any questions they may have.
Schedule & Topic Overview
Each 2-hour session includes group discussion, verbal/communication skills practice, and physical self-defense skills practice. Some sessions include additional activities related to the topic(s) of the week. At the end of each session (except the last one), participants have the opportunity to anonymously ask any question they have; at the beginning of each session (except the first), we will answer their questions.
- Session 0: Parent/Guardian Meeting – generally the weekend before the first session
- Session 1: Introductions
- Orientation, overview of series
- Group Agreements
- Introductions
- Intro to Physical Self-Defense Strikes and Kicks
- Session 2: Defining Dating, Healthy Relationships
- Discussion: What is a date? What is a dating partner? What defines a healthy relationship?
- Verbal: Speaking up when someone does something you don’t like
- Physical: Review of basic strikes and kicks
- Session 3: Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation
- Discussion: Defining Terms, Exploring your own identity and orientation
- Verbal: Coming out/being an ally for someone who comes out
- Physical: Creating combinations, Intro to strategic footwork
- Session 4: Developing Intimacy & Trust, Sexual Health
- Information: Sexual anatomy and physiology, changes of puberty
- Discussion: Talking about sex with dating partners
- Verbal: Setting boundaries with a dating partner
- Physical: fighting from the ground/self-defense from a prone position
- Session 5: Consent
- Information: Birth Control options
- Discussion: Defining consent, enthusiastic consent; alternatives to intercourse
- Verbal: Assertively giving consent, checking in about consent
- Physical: releases from grabs, including pinned to the ground
- Session 6: Taking the Leap
- Discussion: How do you know when you’re ready for sex?
- Verbal: Asking someone out
- Physical: review of strikes and kicks, prep for board breaking
- Session 7: Final session and Celebration!
- Discussion: What will you take with you from this series?
- Verbal: Breaking up with someone
- Physical: Board Breaking
Register for the series or Ask questions using the form below.
Facilitators
Winter 2024 Facilitators
Amy L. E. Jones, LSW (she & they) is a co-owner of Culture of Safety Dojo & Wellness Center, and sought OWL facilitator training in February of 2020, after learning of its efficacy in preventing sexual violence when included in a 12-hour Empowerment Self-Defense course for college-aged women.
Amy has been teaching empowerment-based self-defense since 2003, and received their MSW from the University of Texas at Austin as well as their Illinois license in social work in 2013. She has taught ESD to college students, high school students, and elementary school students; to unhoused and insecurely housed adults and teens; to folks who are blind or visually impaired; to social workers, and in workplace settings including hospitals, the corporate offices of Google and SalesForce, and to staff of local SEIU staff and field organizers.
Abby Theuring has been training at Culture of Safety since January 2021. She’s a parent of twelve-year-old and nine-year-old sons. She is a social worker who has extensive experience working with adolescents. She previously worked at a residential facility as a case worker, youth counselor, and therapist. The adolescents at the facility were wards of the state with psychiatric and psychological issues that prevented them from safely living in foster homes. Their goal was to receive treatment to eventually return home or be placed in foster care. Upon the birth of Abby’s first son, Abby began working with new parents on feeding and parenting choices. Abby homeschools her children and in her free time enjoys embroidery, music and karate.