Empowering Youth to Build Healthy Relationships

At Crossroads Safehouse, we’re working to prevent domestic violence and help young people build healthy, safe relationships. Our Time to Talk program, started in 2008, teaches teens about dating violence, how to recognize the Cycle of Abuse, and what a healthy relationship looks like. 

Time to Talk is a peer-led program, which means students are trained to talk to their friends about the warning signs of dating abuse, such as jealousy, controlling behavior, and digital abuse. Through the Train-the-Trainer model, teens learn how to teach their peers about healthy relationships and dating violence, making the program more relatable and effective. 

Camille Vandergriff, the Outreach and Prevention Coordinator, shared that Time to Talk was created to make it easier to educate teens about dating violence and give them a safe space to ask questions. This approach helps break the silence around difficult topics and encourages students to take charge of their own safety and the safety of their peers. 

Since its start, Time to Talk has grown to include eight high school campuses in Poudre School District. Every year, we update the curriculum to keep it fresh and relevant. We include new topics like how technology affects relationships today, so students can understand and spot digital abuse. 

The response from students has been very positive. Many teens say they were surprised to learn about warning signs of abuse, like jealousy or controlling behavior, that they hadn’t thought about before. By giving students the space to ask questions and talk openly, Time to Talk helps them understand healthy relationships and how to support friends who may be in unsafe relationships. 

Get Involved! 
Want to help make a difference? Crossroads Safehouse is looking for volunteers for Time to Talk during the fall semester from 9-4 on school days. Volunteers help support teens during presentations, share helpful information, and connect with students. If you want to get involved, contact [email protected] to learn more!