The Expect Respect project: preventing bullying and sexual harassment in US elementary schools

Abstract

Impetus for the intervention, early stages of planning, and funding The Expect Respect project was developed by SafePlace, the sole provider of comprehensive sexual and domestic violence prevention and intervention services in Austin, Texas. Since 1989, SafePlace has been providing school-based counselling and support groups for students who have experienced dating, sexual, or domestic violence, and educational programmes in schools for students, parents, and school staff. These services began in response to requests from school counsellors who were aware of young women in physically abusive dating relationships. SafePlace counsellors initiated weekly support groups at several local high schools and middle schools to help abused girls to increase their personal safety, social support, and skills for healthy relationships. Over the years, additional counselling and support-group services were added to respond to the needs of boys and girls in grades K-12 who had experienced dating, sexual, or domestic violence. In an effort to reduce the incidence of dating violence SafePlace began in 1995 to investigate strategies for promoting safe and respectful relationships among younger children, with the intent of raising their expectations and skills for respectful behaviour in future dating relationships. Discussions with elementary school teachers and counsellors revealed that children as young as 11 years were already engaging in dating behaviours, and that frequently these relationships involved behaviours that could be described as bullying and sexual harassment, including hitting, pushing, unwanted touching, name-calling, and put-downs.