The Women's Center of Montgomery County is bringing its "Healthy Relationships" program to Colonial School District students in grades five through 12.

The Fort Washington-based nonprofit posted the announcement on Colonial School District's website on Oct. 23, timed to Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Sessions are available all school year.

The program teaches students to recognize the differences between healthy, unhealthy and abusive relationships, according to the announcement. Topics include spotting red flags, understanding power and control dynamics, and staying safe on social media.

What students learn depends on their grade level. The Women's Center's community education page lists separate curricula for elementary, middle and high school students. Elementary lessons focus on being a good friend, setting personal boundaries and learning the difference between tattling and telling. Middle schoolers cover consent, boundaries and how to support a friend in an unhealthy situation.

High school sessions go further into stalking, the bystander effect and how to safely end a relationship. Seniors get additional preparation for college campus life and the workplace. The sessions use role-play scenarios, myth-identification exercises and short videos, according to the Women's Center.

The Colonial SD announcement lists the program for grades five through 12 but does not specify which curriculum fifth graders receive.

The Women's Center of Montgomery County has focused on eliminating domestic violence since its founding in 1976. The organization operates more than 150 volunteers and 24 full- and part-time staff across seven offices in the county, according to its website. The Reporter reported Oct. 1 that the center has served more than 200,000 people since its founding.

The center operates a 24-hour anonymous hotline at 1-800-773-2424. Families or educators interested in scheduling the Healthy Relationships program can email [email protected].

Upcoming community events:

  • Stuff-A-Bus / PJ Pile-Up: Colonial School District's annual collection drive runs Oct. 26 through Nov. 13.
  • Domestic Violence Awareness Month continues through Oct. 31. The Women's Center of Montgomery County offers resources and its 24-hour hotline year-round.