GIRL TALK WORKSHOPS

Building Awareness. Strengthening Voices. Preventing Harm.

The Healthy Relationships Workshop equips students with the knowledge and skills to understand what safe, respectful relationships look like — and how to recognize when something feels unhealthy or unsafe. Through interactive discussion and real-life scenarios, students learn how to trust their instincts, identify red flags, and support peers who may be struggling.

This workshop focuses on early prevention, empowering students before patterns of harm take root.

Why This Matters

Unhealthy relationship behaviors often begin earlier than many adults realize — and frequently go unreported.

1 in 3 teens will experience physical, emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating partner.

1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys report experiencing dating violence before age 18

The CDC identifies emotional and digital abuse as the most common forms among middle school students.

Most teens do not tell an adult when something feels wrong — often due to fear, embarrassment, or not recognizing the warning signs.

Education plays a critical role in prevention. When students can name unhealthy behaviors, they are more likely to seek help, set boundaries, and support one another.

What Students Will Learn

• ⭐️ What Healthy Relationships Look Like: Students explore foundational elements such as respect, communication, boundaries, and trust.
• 🚩 Warning Signs & Red Flags: Participants learn to recognize behaviors that may indicate unhealthy or unsafe relationship dynamics.
• 💭  Why Someone Might Stay: The workshop addresses common emotional and social barriers that make it difficult to leave an unhealthy situation.
• 🤝 How to Support a Friend: Through guided scenarios, students practice how to respond when a peer needs support.
• 📲 Resources for Help: Students are introduced to free, confidential support services, including 24/7 hotlines, counseling, advocacy, safety planning, and teen-specific resources.

Workshop Leader

Cortney Marengo, MPA

Director of Community Outreach, Laurel House

Cortney Marengo leads Laurel House’s Community Education Prevention Program, Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART), and Medical Advocacy Program. She also serves as the IPV Specialist for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and is the Domestic Abuse Prevention Chair for the Multifaith Coalition.

Cortney holds a Master of Public Administration with a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from Villanova University, a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from University of Maryland, and a Certificate in Event Management from Temple University. With a deep commitment to cultural change and survivor advocacy, Cortney brings expertise, compassion, and credibility to every workshop.

About Our Partner: Laurel House

Laurel House provides free and confidential services to individuals and families impacted by domestic violence, including crisis intervention, counseling, advocacy, prevention education, and emergency shelter.

24/7 Hotline: 215-852-9826