Season 1, Episode 13

Working Together to End Teen Dating Violence

Feb 14, 2023

As young people grow and mature, they seek independence and intimacy. However, many struggle with forming safe and healthy relationships. The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (NHCADSV) and their member organizations are teaching these important skills to youth starting in middle school.

Dating violence is more common than people think, especially among teens and young adults. Knowing the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships, especially as relationships take shape online, can be challenging. The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (NHCADSV), and their member organizations, help young people sort out what it takes to form strong and healthy relationships. Learn what’s being done around the state to help young people, including those in same sex relationships, navigate dating situations. We can all make a difference by supporting this work in the schools.

In this episode, we are joined by two experts on healthy relationships and teen dating violence prevention who work on statewide domestic and sexual violence prevention initiatives: Joi Smith, Program Director and Emily Provencher, Prevention Coordinator with the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. They help us understand how we can support young people to build healthy relationship through healthy boundaries, communication and respect.

Explore more on the topics and themes discussed in this episode:

24/7 Confidential Statewide (NH) Hotline 1-866-644-3574

NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (NHADSV) Works with the local crisis centers throughout the state to provide advocacy, prevention and empowerment of anyone affected by sexual violence, domestic violence, stalking and human trafficking.

NHCADSV’s page on Teen Dating Violence

NHCADSV’s page on how to support a friend who discloses sexual violence

Love Is Respect – Trained advocates are available 24/7 to offer support, education, and advocacy to teens and young adults (as well as friends and family) with questions or concerns about dating and relationships. They also offer information about relationship abuse for educators, counselors, and service providers focused on teens and young adults.

Host & Guests

Featured Guest:

Joi Smith, Emily Provencher

Host: Christin D’Ovidio

Transcript

Episode Transcript (PDF)

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Joi Smith is a Program Director at the NHCADSV. She began this work as an activist through V-Day: A Global Activist Movement to End Violence Against Women and Girls Worldwide. Ms. Smith organized, produced and directed several V-Day and One Billion Rising events throughout the NH Seacoast benefitting HAVEN, formerly A Safe Place and Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS). Working closely with these organizations inspired Ms. Smith to join SASS as a volunteer advocate. She would go on to serve as their Client Services Coordinator and as the Client Services Manager of HAVEN when A Safe Place and SASS merged in 2015. In addition to supporting survivors as an advocate, Ms. Smith has also been an active member of several county and statewide committees dedicated to providing guidance, trainings, and technical support for all of the disciplines working in this field  to strengthen collaboration and to provide consistent, compassionate and comprehensive support and services to all victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

Emily Provencher is the Prevention Coordinator at the NHCADSV. She leads the statewide domestic and sexual violence prevention initiatives and is responsible for implementation of the Rape Prevention and Education Grant . ​Ms. Provencher graduated from Saint Anselm College in 2020 with her Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Communication. During her time at Saint Anselm College, she worked at the Meelia Center for Community Engagement as a Community Partnership Coordinator and Student Management staff. After graduating, Ms. Provencher continued her engagement with the Meelia Center serving as their AmeriCorps VISTA member with a focus  on the development and implementation of a Virtual Tutoring Collaborative in partnership with the Manchester School District. Ms. Provencher provided training, support, and supervision to college student staff members and volunteers engaging in the program, in addition to building partnerships with and providing support to staff at ten Manchester area schools and the Manchester Housing Authority to ensure program outreach and tutoring support to students living in public housing.

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