Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, a member of the Start Strong Learning Community, is the lead organization for Start Strong Bronx. As part of this four-year initiative, Start Strong Bronx will be implementing the Start Strong model by:

• Implementing Fourth R, a healthy relationships curriculum in seven South Bronx middle schools and one after-school program
• Providing 6-week after-school groups to middle school students to complement the Fourth R curriculum
• Providing workshops for parents on adolescent development and impact of parenting on pre-teens' relationships to 75 parents each year
• Creating a Teen Advisory Board (TAB) comprised of high school students, with two members joining our monthly Leadership Steering Committee.
• TAB is creating television packages for middle school students about being an upstander vs. a bystander, and a series called "I Love the Bronx" about positive activities in the Bronx
• Training more than 50 pediatric residents how to screen for dating violence and provide referrals to their patients; and how to help parents talk to their pre-teens about safe and supportive relationships before they start dating

BY THE NUMBER

• The Bronx borough has the highest intimate partner homicide rates in New York City
• Start Strong Bronx aims to reach about 2,000 Bronx middle school students in classrooms, assembly programs, and special events annually
• 400 students in 7^th and 8^th grade will participate in an interactive theater event, “Texting for Life,” at Bronx schools and Pregones Theater in October 2009 for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS

NYC Department of Education
BronxBorough President's Office
Sanctuary for Families
VIP
Pregones Theater
Bronx Clergy Task Force
Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club

MEET THE TEAM

Christina Alex: Start Strong Bronx Director
Alexandra Smith, Start Strong Bronx Project Coordinator
Diane Strom, Start Strong Bronx Senior Administrator
Dr. Ram Kairam, Start Strong Bronx Co-Director
Bryanna Mason: Start Strong Youth Leader, Age 15
Xavier Mohammed McGarrity: Start Strong Youth Leader, Age 17

CONNECT

Address: 1650 Selwyn Avenue, 6^th Floor, Bronx, NY 10457
Email: startstrongbronx@gmail.com
Website: http://www.startstrongbronx.org
P: 718-299-1893

COMMUNITY UPDATES

• NEW TEEN DATING VIOLENCE PREVENTION MOVIE SHOWS IMPACT OF FAMILY DYNAMICS ON PRE-TEEN RELATIONSHIPS
• Start Strong Bronx, RWJF and Parenting Expert Engage Parent Bloggers on Why Middle School Matters
• Start Strong Bronx Teens Participate in Healthy Relationships Forum
• Start Strong Bronx Connects with Multicultural Media

IN THE NEWS

• Polls stand up to bullies: Bill aims to treat 'bullycide' as manslaughter, cyberbullying as stalking
• Bullying and Harassment Policies Fall Short, Panel Is Told
• Teaching Teens to Have Healthy Breakups
• Denim Day teaches lessons for young men on curbing sex violence
• Digital Disrespect: Life Online
• Start Strong Bronx on ABC-7's Tiempo
• Teen Dating Violence
• Start Strong Bronx Teens Working to Eradicate Abuse in Relationships by Teaching the Kids
• Dating 101 for teens in the Bronx - Innovative program schools kids in relationships
• It's a strong start: Foundation gives $1M grant to help curb relationship violence