TOLEDO – Relation-ships are scary. Finding the right person can be fraught with peril. Unfortunately
Dating 101 isn’t offered at your typical high school or college.
To help make finding a good relationship easier, Heartbeat of Toledo and Positive Choices are offering
two Healthy Relationships programs-one for adult women and the other for teens ages 12-15. Both programs
are free.
The first Healthy Relationships program is geared for young women 18 and up. It is a six-week program
planned for Wednesdays beginning Aug. 17 from 3:30 – 5 p.m.
"We initially offered this program to the women we serve who come to us either expecting a baby or
already a mother," Pat Todak, executive director of Heartbeat, said. "We noticed that many of
the women we were helping had been in and out of relationships that were not healthy for them or their
children.
"After running the program this spring we decided to make it available both to our clients as well
as to other young women wanting relationship help," Todak added.
The goal of the Healthy Relationships program is to help participants learn more about male/female
relationships. Other goals include helping participants grow in self-respect as well as the ability to
form healthy, lasting relationships. "The classes will help these women learn more about themselves
and develop a plan to follow their goals and dreams," Angie Pittman, Heartbeat client services
manager, added.
Pittman said participants will learn about power and control tactics, dating violence, mutual respect,
and taking time for themselves.
The second Healthy Relationships program, called Healthy Relationships for Teens is set to begin Sept. 8
from 4:30-6 p.m. It will also run for six weeks. The program is geared for teen-aged girls and guys ages
12-15.
Topics to be covered include The Inside Scoop on Guys & Girls; How do I know when it’s love?;
Knowing When & How to Say No; Being Assertive; Loving Yourself First; and Final
Destination-Where do I want to go in life and How do I get there?
Both programs will be held at Heartbeat’s new offices, 4041 W. Sylvania Ave., Suite LL4, right across
from Westfield Franklin Park Mall. To register, call Heartbeat at 419-241-9131.