Healthy Relationships Youth Program
Building Healthy Relationships for Youth in Tacoma Schools & Community Organizations
The Healthy Relationships Youth Program is a trauma‑informed, youth‑centered curriculum designed to help young people build strong, respectful, and healthy relationships—starting with themselves. Rooted in prevention and empowerment, this program equips youth with lifelong skills that support emotional well‑being, healthy communication, and personal safety.
As a domestic violence advocacy organization, Our Sisters’ House believes prevention begins early. By teaching youth how to recognize healthy behaviors, communicate boundaries, and understand their own worth, we work to reduce future experiences of unhealthy or abusive relationships.
Schools & Community Partners We’ve Worked With:
We are honored to have facilitated the Healthy Relationships Program across numerous schools and community sites in the Tacoma area, including:
We are grateful for the opportunity to work with so many incredible youth and partners, and we look forward to continuing to expand this program to new schools and organizations.
Program Overview:
An 8‑Week Healthy Relationships Curriculum
The Healthy Relationships Program is delivered as an 8‑week curriculum for youth in schools, community centers, and local organizations throughout Tacoma and Pierce County.
Each session provides a safe, supportive, and engaging environment where youth participate in guided discussions, interactive activities, and reflections. The program focuses on helping participants develop self‑awareness, emotional literacy, and the confidence to advocate for themselves.
Key outcomes include:
Increased self‑esteem and self‑awareness
Stronger communication and conflict‑resolution skills
Clear understanding of boundaries and consent
Ability to identify healthy vs. unhealthy relationships
Shared language for expressing needs, values, and emotions
Curriculum Breakdown:
Our curriculum is intentionally structured to build skills progressively, beginning with self-relationship and expanding outward to relationships with others. The curriculum was developed in-house by Our Sisters’ House staff, including Joy and Gabe, and was made possible through funding from the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).
Lessons 1–5
Building a Healthy Relationship With Self
Self‑Love – Understanding self‑worth, identity, and personal value
Positive Personal Development – Goal setting, self‑confidence, and growth
Communication Skills – Expressing thoughts, feelings, and needs respectfully
Resolving Conflict Through Healthy Communication – Managing disagreements constructively
Boundaries – Understanding, setting, and respecting personal boundaries
Lessons 6-9
Understanding Relationships With Others
Love Languages – Recognizing different ways people give and receive care
Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships – Identifying supportive versus harmful behaviors
Our Relationship With Social Media – Navigating online interactions and digital boundaries
Abuse & Teen Dating Violence – Recognizing warning signs and understanding support options
Program Goal:
The goal of the Healthy Relationships Youth Program is to empower young people with the tools, language, and confidence needed to navigate relationships in healthy and respectful ways.
Many youth experience complex emotions and relationships without having the vocabulary to describe what they feel, need, or deserve. This program fills that gap by helping participants:
Understand what healthy relationships look and feel like
Identify unhealthy patterns and behaviors
Communicate boundaries clearly and respectfully
Resolve conflict in constructive ways
Build emotional awareness and self‑respect
By the end of the program, youth leave with a stronger sense of self, improved communication skills, and practical tools they can use throughout their lives.