On April 2, a new weekly class was introduced to women in The Arc of Essex County’s Day Programs, aimed at helping participants build and sustain healthy relationships.
Using an established and widely praised curriculum, Director of Clinical Supports Erica Friedhoff led a group of seven women from the Opportunity Zone and SYA Day Programs for a small group discussion. The curriculum is evidence-informed and trauma-informed and was developed with the help of self-advocates.
For the first meeting, the Healthy Relationships Group set ground rules for their conversations—including listening to each other and being respectful—and discussed what makes a healthy relationship, as well as the different types of relationships people can have with friends, family, peers, coworkers, staff, and potential partners.
Topics to be covered by the class include:
- Understanding who you are as a person (interests, likes/dislikes, communication styles)
- How to be in different kinds of relationships (friendships, employer/employee, intimate)
- How to start a relationship, how to stay in one, and how to decide what is okay in a relationship
- How to communicate with others
- Sexuality and sexual health
- What can go wrong in romantic relationships and what to do if you are in an unhealthy relationship
Such education is important to people with IDD to help participants learn how to have healthy relationships, make informed choices, pick good partners, be safe, and acquire correct information, resources, and tools to make healthy decisions.
The Arc intends to work through the lessons with this initial group and extend the class for additional groups of participants in the future.
Do you have a loved one interested in attending The Arc of Essex County’s Adult Day Services? Click here to learn more about our programs, and reach out to The Arc of Essex County’s Director of Day Services, Traditional Programming Kristina Olszewski to learn how you can enroll: kolszewski@arcessex.org or (973) 535-1181 ext. 1295.