YOU ARE WORTHY of
| respect | trust | honesty |

CHOOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE HEALTHY
| accountability | support | non-threatening behavior |

NO ONE DESERVES TO BE IN AN UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIP

BUILDING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

COMMUNICATION: The most important part of any healthy relationship between two young people is being able to talk and listen to one another. You can share your feelings with the other person and trust that they will be there to listen and support you. Communication is based on honesty and trust. By listening carefully and sharing your thoughts and feelings with another person, you show them that they are an important part of your life.

RESPECT AND TRUST: In healthy relationships, you learn to respect and trust important people in your life. Disagreements may still happen but you learn to stay calm and talk about how you feel. In healthy relationships, people respect each other for who they are. This includes respecting yourself and your feelings so you can set boundaries and feel comfortable.

ELEMENTS OF A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP:
-Not losing sight of who I am
-Ability to share my feelings and needs
-Both people are equally committed
-Acceptance of self and the other person
-Share basic value system
-Ability to share person with others without feeling jealous
-Having common goals and sense of direction
-Willing to compromise and keep own standards
-Equality
-Joyful, happy, and fun

DID YOU KNOW:

-Good communication skills and good character are essential in healthy relationships that lead to healthy, stable marriages.

-Out-of-wedlock births have negative consequences such as domestic violence, child abuse, poverty and health problems.

-Unreasonable or unexpressed expectations can lead to conflict, especially in the area of finances.

-Living together before marriage leaves a trail of broken relationships, unstable homes, children at risk, violence and poverty.

-Effective parenting and fatherhood are critical to successful family life.

SIGNS OF UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS:

-Threatening or violent behavior
-Isolation from friends, family, and activities
-Using guilt to manipulate
-One person making all the decisions
-Using put-downs or dirty looks to intimidate
-Trying to humiliate, especially in front of others
-Play mind games
-Using jealousy to justify actions
-Pressuring or forcing sexual activity
-Always needing to be together

BOONEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTNERS WITH S.A.F.E., INC., A NON-PROFIT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER, WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO REDUCE VIOLENCE WITHIN FAMILIES BY:

-Providing shelter, clothing and food
-Education and counseling
-Day care and transportation
-Continued support
-Training of professionals
-Printed materials
-Public service announcements.