Courtesy/One Love Foundation

LAPS News:

February’s prevention theme is healthy relationships. With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, we tend to think of romance, but there are all types of relationships – between friends, family members, colleagues, peers, coaches, teachers, and mentors, to name a few. Strong, supportive relationships are one of the strongest protective factors that help youth build resiliency and prevent them from engaging in risk behaviors. They are also a primary factor for youth and adults alike in supporting health and happiness.

One Love is an organization whose mission is to empower young people with the tools and resources they need to see the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships and bring life-saving prevention education to their communities. One Love’s guidance on the 5 essentials of a healthy relationship (below) can be applied across the board from friendship to mentorship, dating to long term partnerships. 

• Communication is indeed essential. Being able to clearly express wants, needs, and expectations and talk about challenges as they come up is the foundation of a healthy relationship.
• Respect is another important element – allowing the other person to be themselves, share their perspectives, and have some privacy are key.
• Boundaries help us feel comfortable and safe and preserve a degree of autonomy in any relationship.
• Trust takes time to develop but it is the glue that strengthens relationships and can be built through honest communication, keeping confidences, and consistent presence.
• Support is demonstrated by showing up, treating each other equally, and encouraging the other person to be themselves and reach for their dreams.

Developing strong, supportive relationships is a skill and an important aspect of prevention. Unhealthy and abusive relationships are unfortunately all too common. Students in the Los Alamos Public Schools learn about healthy relationships through counselor lessons, working cooperatively in their classrooms, and participating in clubs, sports, and activities.

The Second Step curriculum (grades K-8) includes lessons on empathy and kindness, as well as managing relationships and social conflict. Healthy relationships are discussed as curricular themes in the upper grades and in Health classes in grades 8 and 11.

More information about the One Love organization, including the 10 signs of an unhealthy relationship, can be found on their website. 

The Los Alamos Public Schools district coordinates a spectrum of prevention activities that are provided by school staff and community partners with funding support from Los Alamos County. The aim of the program is to build protective factors, life skills, and resilience and reduce risk behaviors and harm to children and youth.

For more information or to offer suggestions to the LAPS Prevention Program, Prevention Support Specialist Kristine Coblentz can be reached at k.coblentz@laschools.net or 505.663.2575.