Back to School: How to Support Teens through Healthy Relationships

August 31, 2026 | By Rebecca Mather, Domestic Violence Outreach & Prevention Coordinator

As young people prepare for the new school year, they often face a flood of emotions. They feel excitement about seeing old friends, anxiety about meeting new people, and curiosity about navigating dating relationships.

Adolescence is a time of enormous physical, emotional, and social change. According to the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) VetoViolence program, “Youth seek greater independence and try on new roles and identities. Friendships and dating relationships allow them to practice healthy communication, develop social skills, and manage strong feelings. While giving youth room to develop independence is crucial, adults must ensure this time of exploration remains safe and productive.”

The Reality of Teen Dating Violence

Discussing difficult topics like teen dating violence can feel daunting for parents, caregivers, and educators. However, data highlights why these conversations are necessary.

The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey reveals a painful reality among U.S. high school students who dated:

  • Physical Violence: About 1 in 12 experienced physical violence.
  • Sexual Violence: About 1 in 10 experienced sexual violence.

The data also shows that some teens face a much higher risk:

  • Gender Disparities: Female students experience higher rates of physical and sexual dating violence than male students.
  • Marginalized Youth: Students identifying as LGBTQ+, or those exploring their gender identity, experience significantly higher rates of violence than heterosexual students.

Both survivors and perpetrators of abuse come from every walk of Jewish life, every denomination, every congregation, all ages, all race and ethnicities, all sexual orientations, and all socioeconomic backgrounds.

Prevention Education Is a Powerful Tool

While these statistics can be overwhelming, education changes outcomes. There are many opportunities to help teens make healthy choices. Positive relationships with trusted adults—including family members, educators, and rabbis—support healthy dating habits and lower violence risks. Adults serve as role models for youth on how to build safe and equitable relationships.

Bring Project DVORA to Your Community

Jewish Family Service’s (JFS) Project DVORA is here to support you. We offer customizable, prevention programs and trainings designed for educators, rabbis, and community leaders, grounded in Jewish values.

Our workshops for middle and high schoolers (with adaptations available for elementary and college audiences) include:

  • Understanding Boundaries & Consent
  • Interrupting Gender Stereotypes
  • Healthy Relationships vs. Abuse & Power
  • Flirting vs. Sexual Harassment
  • Bystander Intervention

Together, we can help young people understand and communicate their feelings and build healthy relationships that empower them as individuals and community members.

Get Involved

Contact our Outreach and Prevention Coordinator, Rebecca, at dvoraprevention@jfsseattle.org to schedule a workshop or learn more about our resources.