269121 Symposium – Welcome and Introduction

Tuesday, October 30, 2012 : 8:30 AM - 8:35 AM

Lucia Corral Pena , Blue Shield Against Violence, Blue Shield of California Foundation, San Francisco, CA
Teen dating violence (TDV) is a serious public health concern. Despite data showing alarmingly high rates of TDV victimization, programs with proven effectiveness to prevent TDV are scarce, particularly at the middle school level. This dearth of programs is especially apparent among younger adolescents.

The proposed symposium includes three papers on the Start Strong Start Strong: Building Healthy Teen Relationship (Start Strong) initiative. Start Strong is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Blue Shield Foundation of California. The first paper will present an overview of Start Strong's comprehensive, community-based initiative to promote healthy relationships and prevent TDV. The second paper will focus on a highly innovative component of Start Strong – the use of social media and communications strategies to engage youth and challenge unhealthy peer norms to promote positive dating behaviors among young adolescents. The final paper will present results from an independent evaluation of the initiative, showing that Start Strong is having positive effects on key risk factors for TDV.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Explain Start Strong's comprehensive, community-based initiative to promote healthy relationships and prevent TDV. Identify the outcome findings from the evaluation components of Start Strong

Keywords: Youth Violence, Violence Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been involved in the Start Strong project in my role as Program Officer of Blue Shield Against Violence. Blue Shield of California Foundation has a strong interest in prevention strategies that address the end of domestic violence in California and promoting effective practices and lessons with the field.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4032.0: Expanding the Evidence Base: Status of Current Research