The National Indian Women's Health Resource Center in conjunction with the American Indian Resource Center Counselors will be holding five 45 minute session workshops on "Healthy Relationship Skills for Youth". The curriculum has been developed for 7th-12th graders.

The goal of Healthy Relationship Skills For Youth is to provide young Native people with information that will help them identify the many factors that can change the outcome of a relationship in order to strengthen our communities by healthier and safer dating patterns, marriages and life-long partnerships.

Session 1 (Boys & Girls: Traditional and Today!) provides teens the opportunity to define and discuss the meaning of a relationship, assess how today's gender roles can be stereotypical and limiting and to review historical and cultural gender roles, and to identify their positive attributes.

Session 2 (Healthy Choices) discusses the concept of well-being from an American Indian/Alaska Native perspective of being in balance, discussion about issues which affect teens (sexual risk including teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, drugs and alcohol and unhealthy relationships).

Session 3 (Are They Listening?) helps adolescents realize the importance of communication in a relationship. Activities focus on gender differences, assertiveness, listening, and assessing their own skills in communication.

Session 4 (Match.com) sets the stage that any romantic relationship should begin with a friendship; helps them identify the attributes they are looking for in a person; and identify how outside influences can affect relationships.

Session 5 (Reality Check!) provides a framework for the importance of understanding how money can affect relationships, the importance of communication about money, and provide activities to show the importance of understanding finances in relationships.