Preventing Violence For 20 years, Safe Horizon has been creating effective and innovative responses to the issue of youth violence. Violence impacts young people in their homes, their schools, and their communities. Many youth are victims of gang violence, bullying, child abuse, or relationship abuse. They witness domestic violence and other crimes and are exposed to violence in the media. Safe Horizon’s youth programs aim to address the underlying causes of violence and the impact of victimization through a variety of psycho-educational modalities including an interactive, creative curriculum, group activities, mediation training, and counseling. With a focus on leadership, empowerment, and the development of social, emotional, and interpersonal skills, the programs offer students concrete alternatives to violence. Safe Horizon’s youth programs give young people the opportunity to address and explore issues of violence in a stable, non-judgmental setting and to acquire the tools they need to resolve conflicts nonviolently. Making Schools Safer Safe Horizon’s school programs enlist the participation of students, teachers, and parents in resolving and preventing conflicts. Students and teachers are trained in mediation, and students lead workshops for their peers about anger management and gang awareness. Safe Horizon’s Safe Harbor programs assist victimized youth by creating a designated safe space in schools where students receive counseling, learn conflict-resolution skills, and develop school-wide strategies for reducing violence. Safe Horizon's Generation NeXt Training Academy capitalizes on the effectiveness of peer-to-peer communication by training young people to deliver the message of violence prevention and how to avoid and diffuse violence through workshops. Safe Horizon's After-School programs provide educational and recreational activities to students through the lens of violence prevention. Relationship Abuse Prevention Program Relationship abuse is another name for domestic violence or battering. It is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence. Such abuse can occur in dating relationships and among young acquaintances. Safe Horizon’s Relationship Abuse Prevention Program addresses teen relationship abuse by providing education, advocacy, crisis counseling, and intervention for victims, training for parents and staff, and prevention education for all students. Programs for Homeless and Street-Involved Youth Many youth living on the street are victims of child abuse, prostitution, or other violent crimes. Safe Horizon’s Streetwork Project was founded in 1984 to address the growing numbers of homeless youth in Manhattan’s Times Square area. Streetwork’s goal is to give homeless and disenfranchised youth an opportunity to reclaim themselves a sense of dignity and self-worth. The program has grown from a small store front to include two Drop-In Centers and two Residential Programs for young people, ages 13 to 23. These four sites provide emotional and concrete support to more than 15,000 young people each year. Streetwork provide youth with a comprehensive array of services including individual counseling, crisis intervention, access to medical and psychiatric care, hot meals, showers, and emergency shelter. Services are offered in a supportive and non-judgmental atmosphere that encourages young people to take what they need at their own pace. For more information about Safe Horizon’s Streetwork Program, click here.