The Grant
Start Strong Wichita
What is Start Strong?
Start Strong is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in collaboration with the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF). It is currently the largest funded national initiative aimed at preventing relationship violence and abuse among young people by promoting healthy relationship behaviors.
Wichita is among 11 communities across the United States selected to pilot this project. The other communities are:
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Who is responsible for this initiative?
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and Blue Shield of California Foundation (BSCF) are investing $18 million in the overall Start Strong initiative. RWJF is funding ten sites around the country and BSCF is funding one site in California. The Family Violence Prevention Fund is RWJF’s National Program Office (NPO) for Start Strong, providing direction and assistance to all sites. In collaboration with RWJF, the Family Violence Prevention Fund works closely with the sites to tailor the national Start Strong program to local needs.
Why are health foundations investing in teen dating violence prevention?
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Blue Shield of California Foundation* are making an unprecedented investment to discover innovative and practical solutions to teen dating violence and abuse. There is a strong connection between our overall health and our social environment. Teen dating violence and abuse is a serious public health problem and is associated with higher levels of drug and alcohol abuse, unplanned pregnancy, STDs, depression and anxiety. Start Strong is taking prevention to a new level by supporting 11- to- 14-year-olds to build healthier relationships throughout their lives.
What makes this program unique?
Start Strong is the largest investment in innovative grass-roots efforts focused on this age group (11- to- 14-year-olds) to prevent teen dating violence and abuse. We are working together with teens, parents, caregivers, educators, healthcare professionals, domestic violence advocates, and community leaders to build environments that support healthy relationships and ensure violence and abuse are never tolerated
Who is the target for this program?
This initiative will target 11- to- 14-year-old youth. In addition to reaching this age group, Start Strong communities will also be engaging “teen influencers,” such as older teens (ages 15 to 18), parents/caregivers, teachers, counselors, coaches, and other mentors.
How will Start Strong make a difference?
By educating our youth and empowering communities to lead, design and implement teen dating violence prevention programs, Start Strong aims to change the way young people view their dating relationships and what behaviors are healthy and acceptable.
What are the components of the Start Strong model?
There are four core strategies to the Start Strong model: education, community engagement, policy change, and communications and social marketing.
- Educate and engage youth in schools and in out of school settings: Working with schools in USD 259 and through the Boys & Girls Club and our local YMCA after school program.
- Educate and engage teen influencers such as older teens, parents/caregivers, teachers and other mentors: Parents matter. As do the older teens and siblings who act as role models and can teach early lessons on interpersonal behavior and relationships. Even as young teens increasingly turn to their peers for advice on relationship matters, parents and other influencers still play an important role in shaping attitudes, behaviors and resiliency skills in youth.
- Change policy and environmental factors: Creating safe and supportive environments in which youth can have healthy relationships will require altering community-level environmental factors that affect teen dating and sexual violence.
- Implement effective communications/social marketing strategies: Because media and technology shape this generation’s perceptions and understanding of social norms more than any other previous generation, a leading component of the initiative is public education and social marketing on dating violence prevention.
How long is this grant effective?
The Start Strong grant funds will be allocated to eleven sites over four years from November 2008 to 2012.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 35 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. Helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need the Foundation expects to make a difference in our lifetime. For more information visit www.rwjf.org