Building Strong Bonds: How Step-In Empowers Girls to Cultivate Healthy Relationships
The Second Pillar of the Step-In Curriculum: Healthy Relationships
At the Step-In Program, the second pillar of our curriculum is Healthy Relationships. Through thoughtfully designed lessons and activities, we empower girls to develop the skills necessary for fostering healthy relationships in all aspects of their lives.
Our curriculum equips girls with tools to build and sustain friendships, set healthy boundaries, and resolve conflicts positively. The Step-In Program incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques to reinforce these skills, teaching girls to identify negative thought patterns and reframe them through cognitive restructuring. Using activities like role-playing, we engage girls in experiential learning, making each girl an active participant in understanding healthy relationships, rather than a passive listener. These CBT-informed activities support emotional growth and enhance social skills.
The Step-In Program also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a healthy relationship with oneself. Girls learn that the foundation of healthy connections with others begins with self-acceptance and self-care. Our curriculum addresses negative self-talk, building confidence and self-esteem through activities such as creating personal affirmation boxes. Each girl writes notes about what she loves about herself and can also place positive notes in her friends’ boxes, reinforcing both self-appreciation and friendship.
Furthermore, Step-In girls form healthy connections with their community. They learn about the importance of sleep, nutrition, and healthy habits from community members and engage in service activities, like making blankets for NICU infants.
We believe that learning these skills at a young age is essential for building a foundation for future, healthy relationships. By teaching girls how to create and maintain these connections, the Step-In Program equips them to navigate challenges, form lasting bonds, contribute positively to their community, and lead fulfilling lives.