Relationship Abuse Prevention Program
RAPP is a middle and high school-based curriculum designed to end teen relationship abuse and empower young people. Because violent behavior typically begins between the ages of 12 and 18, RAPP was developed to deliver an array of services to help students recognize and change unhealthy patterns of behavior before transitioning into adult relationships.
The RAPP program is a unique part of URI’s holistic suite of domestic violence prevention, intervention, education and outreach programs and services. Through our work with teens, URI stands out in the domestic violence landscape to help stop abuse before it starts; prevention now creates more opportunity for a future free of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).
Master’s level social workers – RAPP Coordinators – are placed in schools to educate students, school staff, parents, and the entire school community. The RAPP Coordinators provide:
- Individual and group counseling to students, meeting them where they’re at regardless of age, gender, sexuality, race, relationship status and comfort with disclosure
- Classroom workshops
- Staff Development and Training
Early Relationship Abuse Prevention Program (ERAPP) teaches middle school students in New York City that abuse has no place in love. The program helps students think critically about healthy relationships. As one of the most extensive domestic violence prevention programs, we plant seeds to help grow healthy friendships, relationships, and families. Early RAPP places a Community Educator in schools to provide education, outreach, and training. Schools hosting an Early RAPP Community Educator report less school violence, improved conflict resolution skills, and a stronger, more self-confident student body.
Students receive counseling on a wide variety of subjects related to teen relationship abuse, including:
- leaving abusive relationships
- helping friends who are in abusive relationships
- dealing with trauma from having witnessed violence in the family
- reporting crimes
- obtaining orders of protection
- building confidence and self esteem
- preventing domestic violence in the community
PEER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
We believe one of our best resources to teach teens about healthy relationships are other trained teens. That’s why an important component of RAPP is Peer Leadership, which builds teen leaders who can speak out against relationship abuse and promote active student involvement.
In an intensive seven-week summer program, RAPP coordinators and students work to develop trainings for their peers throughout the city. After completing the teen dating violence prevention program, students are prepared to discuss relationship abuse with their classmates when returning to school. The summer program emphasizes professional development, responsibility, and community building.
URI Relationship Abuse Prevention Program (RAPP) and Early RAPP reach 40,000 students across New York City, annually. Meet the inspiring RAPP Coordinators and Early RAPP Community Educators who work directly with teens and adolescents to help cultivate healthy relationships.
