Activate Center

Healthy relationships

Resources on what makes adolescent relationships healthy and how professionals can support youth relationships with romantic partners, peers, their own parents, and other supportive adults. Spans consent, dating violence, sexual cyberbullying, and the relationship experiences of expectant and parenting youth.

Supportive Adult Connections, Teen Pregnancy, and Youth Mental Health

This research summary examines the intersections between mental health and teen pregnancy, describes how nonfamilial supportive adults are a well-documented protective factor across multiple aspects of young people’s well-being, and highlights ways youth-supporting professionals can serve in the role of a supportive adult.

  • Healthy relationships
  • Pregnancy and parenting
New Research Summary

A Technical Assistance Tool for Helping Youth Navigate Peer Influence

This technical assistance tool describes practical, research-informed strategies that youth-supporting professionals can use to help young people recognize and respond to negative peer influences, strengthen positive peer connections, and make safe decisions related to substance use and sexual activity. 

  • Healthy relationships
  • Pregnancy and parenting
New Technical Assistance Tool

A Practice Guide for Understanding Consent

This guide helps youth-supporting professionals understand and talk about consent, with a focus on young people who have experienced the child welfare or juvenile justice systems, homelessness, or disconnection from school and work.

  • Healthy relationships
  • Consent
Technical Assistance Tool

Exploring the Dual Experiences of Parenting While Being Parented

This summary describes research about young parents and their adult caregivers, with considerations for professionals supporting youth and families who face unique adversities.

  • Healthy relationships
  • Pregnancy and parenting
Research Summary

Crucial Conversations About Healthy Romantic Relationships

This resource focuses on three critical topics related to healthy romantic relationships: laying the foundation for having conversations with youth, conversation starters, and dos and don’ts for having conversations with youth.

  • Talking about sexual and reproductive health
  • Healthy relationships
Technical Assistance Tool

Sexual Cyberbullying Research Summary

This research summary defines various forms of sexual cyberbullying, reports what we know about the prevalence of sexual cyberbullying, discusses factors that increase the risk for or protect youth against sexual cyberbullying, reviews what is known about preventing sexual cyberbullying, and shares information about relevant laws and resources for youth-supporting professionals.

  • Healthy relationships
  • Sexual violence
Research Summary

Healthy Romantic Relationships and Youth Well-being

This resource summarizes research and practice literature, provides practice guidance, and describes cultural and systemic considerations associated with three key domains of healthy romantic relationships.

  • Healthy relationships
Research Summary