As the school year approaches, parents and educators in New York are gearing up to support their children through another exciting, and sometimes, challenging transition. Each back-to-school season brings its own set of hurdles, but with the right tools and resources, parents and teachers can equip children and young people with the skills and confidence they need to navigate any situation.
To help with these preparations, the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NYSCADV) has curated a list of recommended resources from our Because We're Dads Campaign. These resources, available in our Primary Prevention Toolkit, provide valuable support for parents and teachers, enabling them to engage with children, teens, and young adults in discussions about healthy relationships during various life transitions.
Join NYSCADV on this annual journey as we explore tools and knowledge to engage parents, educators, and caregivers alike, championing consent, and nonviolence in our schools and communities.
With the right resources and a united effort, we can help create safe, respectful, and inclusive environments for our children—both at school and at home—making the back-to-school season a time of growth and positive change.
Resources
Because We're Dads: Back to School Toolkit Webinar (Recording)
Join NYSCADV's webinar where prevention educators explore different approaches for engaging parents. Emphasizing the role of dads and male-identified caregivers, this webinar introduces valuable resources like the updated Back to School Toolkit and Conversation Starters. These resources aim to guide parents in discussing healthy relationships with their children.
Because We're Dads: Back to School Toolkit
The Back to School Toolkit from Because We're Dads equips fathers with the confidence, capacity, and comfort needed to engage in critical conversations with their children. This toolkit focuses on supporting children through transitions while promoting gender equality.
Parent Engagement Conversation Starters in Prevention Education
These Conversation Starters serve as useful outreach and educational tools for prevention educators in various formats, including website content, social media posts, PowerPoint presentations, and physical handouts. Designed as prompts, they encourage parents and caregivers to initiate open conversations about healthy and unhealthy aspects of dating. The Conversation Starters explore concepts of respectful flirting, consent, and equitable relationships while addressing topics like dating abuse, coercion, and cyberstalking.
Conversation Starters for Kids - Global Boyhood Initiative
These Conversation Starters aim to open up conversations between kids and parents. Informed by research, they are specifically designed to help kids, especially boys, learn to share emotions healthily, accept and connect with others, stand up and speak out against bullying, and break free from stereotypes. Choose from cards designed for ages 4-6, 7-9, and 10-13.
The State of America's Boys: An Urgent Case for a More Connected Boyhood
This important report provides an overview of the state of boys in the United States, examining the challenges they face and the promise of their futures. The report discusses boyhood in an ecological context, looking at the relationships, communities, and larger social norms that shape their lives. Each section concludes with key recommendations to support boys, alongside efforts to support girls, so they have a real shot at reaching their full potential.
The Tech-Savvy Parent
Visit the Tech Savvy Parent and download resources for parents to have conversations about technology-facilitated abuse. With blogs, online courses and free and downloadable resources, this website and collection of resources are valuable support to parents. Their tagline? “Abuse has gone digital. Parenting hasn’t.”
Be sure to check out their latest free resource, “The 5-Minute Parenting Guide: Catfishing”
About NYSCADV's Because We're Dads Campaign
NYSCADV acknowledges the significant impact fathers and father figures have on promoting healthy relationships. The Because We're Dads campaign, initiated in 2019 as part of NYSCADV's Primary Prevention Toolkit, aims to engage and mobilize fathers. It offers a collection of resources, webinars, articles, and promising practices for parents, prevention educators, and teachers. While the campaign supports all parents and caregivers, it specifically provides targeted assistance to dads and male caregivers.
As the new school year approaches, it's essential to equip parents and educators with the necessary resources to engage in meaningful conversations about healthy relationships. NYSCADV's Because We're Dads Campaign offers a range of valuable resources, including webinars, toolkits, and conversation starters, designed to support parents and teachers in promoting consent, and nonviolence. Utilize these resources to foster equitable and respectful relationships grounded in healthy communication among children and youth.
