The History

First Involvement

Catholic Charities first became involved in teen dating violence prevention in 2003 when the agency volunteered to host the DELTA Grant (Domestic Violence Prevention Enhancement and Leadership Through Alliances) on behalf of the Wichita/Sedgwick County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition (WDVSAC). Through DELTA and the established relationships with the public schools and administration, Choose Respect Clubs were established in all public middle and high schools in Wichita.

Beginning With Choose Respect

Initially, Choose Respect Clubs were comprised of several student leaders from each school. Twice a year, Choose Respect would host all day workshops for the student leaders to learn about healthy relationship skills and warning signs to would-be abusive relationships.

Developing “Upstanders”

Each club was charged with meeting on a regular basis and creating their own Choose Respect Campaign within their school. The goal was to increase healthy relationship skills and decrease relationship violence through education and willingness to be what is now called an “upstander” (empowered and activated bystander). Education was also provided for school staff upon request as a means to support the students in their effort to change the school climate.

Becoming “Start Strong” in Wichita

In 2008, Catholic Charities was awarded the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Start Strong Grant of $1 Million over four years. Catholic Charities partners with the Wichita Public Schools, The Wichita State University, the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center, the YMCA, and the Boys & Girls Club (among others)to provide a comprehensive approach to eliminating teen dating violence by employing all the ways kids are normally influenced i.e. peers; family & caregivers; school; community; and media.

Besides continuing to promote Choose Respect Clubs in all 30 Wichita Public Schools at the secondary level, Wichita now also has

• healthy relationship curricula being taught in three target middle schools and two high schools;
• lessons and activities in after school programs;
• a youth committee called TAP (Teens About Prevention) which helps to direct the project made up of students from across the Wichita area,
• three drama troupes that travel around the community mostly presenting to other young people but also for adults;
• education for parents and staff at three target middle schools;
• collection of data to evaluate effectiveness of the project’s community-wide events such as

1.       2009’s Final Friday Art Show downtown in February;

2.       2010’s First Friday Rock RESPECT! Band Festival in Old Town in September;

3.       A growing library of videos and news programs on YouTube; and

4.       This website! (www.startstrongwichita.org )