Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Health And Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Quincy schools praise Dove partnership after report on teen‑dating‑violence prevention work
Summary
Representatives from Dove described peer‑led trainings, classroom lessons and summer summits that reached hundreds of Quincy students; school committee members praised the long partnership and asked for ways to reach more high‑school students.
Representatives of Dove, a local nonprofit that provides prevention education and support services, presented program results to the Quincy School Committee on Feb. 12 and asked for continued partnership funding and access to schools.
Dove’s new executive director, Mick Hirsch, and program staff Jen Bolton and Kelly Trung summarized the organization’s ‘‘You Speak’’ curriculum, which includes peer‑leader training, classroom presentations by grade level and an annual multi‑day youth summit. Dove reported multi‑school reach last year: full‑day trainings at North Quincy High with about 50 students at a time, 44 presentations at Atlantic Middle School, 31 at Broadmeadows, and additional classroom presentations across middle and high schools. Staff described efforts to build relationships with health teachers and guidance counselors and offered a survivor speaker for older students.
Committee members praised the program’s longevity and impact. ‘‘We really appreciate the partnership and all your hard work,’’ a committee member said, expressing support for continued funding and collaboration. Members asked how Dove could increase high‑school reach; Dove replied that high‑school delivery typically occurs during health class for one grade cohort per year and that the organization would welcome additional touch points and voluntary workshops that could reach more students.
Why it matters: Committee members noted that prevention education is a crucial complement to counseling and school supports, and they highlighted the value of peer leadership and relationship‑building with staff. Dove’s presence in Quincy schools — described by members as a multi‑decade collaboration — is used for student training and staff support.
What’s next: Committee members thanked Dove and the mayor for prior funding support. District staff and Dove said they will explore ways to expand high‑school programming and continue the partnership in middle schools and high schools.
