| Description |
Intimate Partner Violence is a public health issue that affects 41% of women and 26% of men within their lifetime. As a nation, there is an ongoing debate about how sex education should be taught as part of this discussion, intimate partner violence and healthy relationships are not taught consistently. This proves to be a missed opportunity to prevent this public health crisis. This state of the science review looks to use prior studies on intimate partner violence (IPV) to argue the need for a nationwide requirement for IPV education in secondary schools, standardized IPV curriculum, and requirements for educator training and support. For purposes of this project, IPV includes: consent, healthy relationships, domestic violence, forced sexual contact, and adolescent dating violence. A review of literature was conducted to support the recommendation to implement a standardized IPV education curriculum in secondary schools. Included in this review is an assessment of current state and national legislation in sexual education curriculum, review of existing IPV programs and their efficacy, and necessary support and infrastructure for IPV education in secondary schools as well as standardized educator training. Based on this review of the science, it is recommended that IPV education be mandated in secondary schools nationwide. The impact of IPV is felt economically, emotionally, physically and psychologically by individuals, families and communities across the United States. |
