We work in all 9 Portland Public high schools and across our community to fulfill our mission of someday ending domestic violence. This works lays a foundation for a safer future, creating a community that’s healthier for everyone.
EVERY DAY, WE ARE WORKING TO END ABUSE
Raphael House is more than a safe haven in the aftermath of abuse. Since 2006, we’ve also been expert leaders in preventing domestic violence – teaching practical tools for building safe relationships, asking for consent, and responding to abuse to thousands of students, teachers, and community members across Portland each year.
Our Prevention Education program is unique in its comprehensive approach; for schools, we use best practices to educate students, parents, teachers, and administrators about how to engage in equitable relationships. We also help our partners build a school-wide culture of consent and implement policies that create safer spaces for everyone.
In 2018, we also began offering in-school confidential advocacy for students – the first partnership of its kind in the US. Our Confidential Advocate works alongside teens in all 9 Portland Public High Schools, offering them a safe adult to listen and share resources, so students can seek support and be part of ending the cycle of violence early.
Beyond our work in schools, we also do trainings across the community in businesses, government, and nonprofits.
Our culture-shifting approach also includes influencing policies and legislation through our work on the Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force, MEN (Men Engaging NOW), the FVCC Multnomah County Prevention Committee, and our work on the Healthy Teen Relationships Act and the Oregon Workplace Leave Bill.
To learn more or schedule a presentation:
Please contact Elizabeth McKeever, MSW, Education Programs Manager, at education@raphaelhouse.com
“Until we brought Raphael House of Portland into our classes, we asked ‘what do we do to avoid rape?’ We can carry our…keys between our fingers or take self-defense classes.
But Raphael House asked, ‘why are we perpetrating these crimes to begin with?’
Reframing it – it doesn’t fall on the victim. And that just flipped the conversations happening in my class, and I believe that’s what helped change the culture, as well as the teaching, surrounding this topic“
Gaye Chapman, Health Teacher at Cleveland High School, 14-year partner of our Prevention Education program
Hear more from Gaye in our Prevention Education spotlight video!
1 in 3 teens
will experience some form of abuse
2732
students and adults participated in our Prevention Education workshops last year
