Youth Violence Prevention
My Voice Matters
What is My Voice Matters?
My Voice Matters (MVM) is a theory-informed curriculum developed by Safe Haven with modules for middle and high school age youth aimed at preventing relationship abuse as well as human trafficking. Research shows that addressing risk and protective factors for relationship abuse and human trafficking will have reinforcing effects for both abuse and exploitation.
Safe Haven’s My Voice Matters (MVM) Youth Violence Prevention (YVP) curriculum incorporates skills-based, age-appropriate, and evidence-based practices that cover the following topic areas of violence prevention and human trafficking prevention: Social Norms, Healthy Relationships, Red Flags and Risk Factors, Bystander Intervention, and Getting Help.
See the Impact of My Voice Matters
94% of students learned
what they can do to help keep themselves safe, including when using the internet.
100% of trained teachers
reported they felt confident they had the skills to facilitate the MVM curriculum to their students.
I’m currently in my first relationship so this program taught me what to do and watch out for.” — Student
My Voice Matters is a big improvement over our experience with PROTECT [another anti-trafficking curriculum]. Students connect with the materials and share in class, including some whom I have never heard share.” — Teacher
The most impactful thing I learned in this program was about boundaries and healthy relationships.” — Student
My Voice Matters Resources
For Parents
Safe Haven has put together a guide/toolkit for the trusted adults in the lives of My Voice Matters youth participants to supplement. These engaging and interactive lessons address developmentally appropriate topics for youth participants in middle and high school.
Parent/Guardian and Mentor Conversation Cards
Connected to the My Voice Matters programs and resources, our team has produced a series of conversation cards intended to make those tough conversations easier.
School and Youth serving Organizations
Staff and administrators alike can be involved in bringing the two levels of MVM curriculum to their organizations and schools. Each topic is delivered during a 45- to 75-minute session and is delivered for 8th and 10th grade audiences.
Additionally, Safe Haven offers a robust training for facilitators designed to equip educators and youth leaders with the necessary knowledge, tools, and resources to facilitate the My Voice Matters youth violence prevention (YVP) curriculum.
For Your Organization
Safe Haven offers My Voice Matters training for organizations to raise awareness and provide strategies to help those affected by relationship abuse and human trafficking. Eligible participants can choose from two training options:
- Facilitators of the MVM curriculum to students
- MVM trainers who can continue to teach others how to facilitate
These trainings include a multitude of resources, data dashboards, a web training portal, and comes with a My Voice Matters One-Year License to certify your qualifications.
For Your Community
Safe Haven has been blessed to have multiple partners in the community, and we welcome many more to join in the effort to prevent violence and human trafficking. As such, Safe Haven offers free tools and resources for community members to educate themselves on topics like healthy vs. unhealthy relationships, definitions of trafficking, and much more.
My Voice Matters Team of Experts
Tara Aday, MPA
Senior Director of Programs
Tara provides key leadership to agency-wide programming, including its Nonresidential, Emergency Shelter, Housing and Prevention programming. With over 15 years of experience in the domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual violence fields, Tara’s expertise includes system-change, positive youth development, trauma-informed care, and community-based prevention efforts. During her tenure at Safe Haven, she has facilitated over 1,300 trainings reaching over 23,000 participants locally and across the United States.
Becky Diffin
Community Outreach Manager
Becky has worked in the field of domestic and sexual violence for over 15 years, helping survivors navigate systems and institutions historically rooted in oppression. She has created and facilitated trainings and conversations to address the vulnerabilities survivors and marginalized populations experience. Becky provides advocacy for human trafficking survivors as well as training to new staff and community partners. She also serves as the point person for the West Michigan Human Trafficking Coalition.
Antonio Tendero, EdD
Director of Safe Haven Prevention Praxis
Tony connects education with action to end violence, Prevention Praxis encompasses the prevention work of Safe Haven. His formal education includes a BA degree (University of Michigan) and an EdD degree (Teachers College-Columbia University).
His work in education as a middle school teacher, elementary/middle school principal, curriculum director and university professor was focused on literacy, spiritual formation and leadership development.
Mykal Ward, M.Ed
Training and Education Manager
In this role, Mykal facilitates and supervises youth violence prevention (YVP) education, training, and programming. She has taught and mentored students in diverse settings for over 20 years, working with students ranging from middle school through university. She has also supervised and mentored fellow educators with a goal of creating educational environments and experiences informed by best practices designed to help students and teachers reach their highest potential as both educators and learners.
Raquel Rodriguez
Bilingual Violence Prevention Coordinator
Raquel Rodriguez is a coordinator with a passion for empowering youth and creating positive change. Her previous experience as the Middle and High School Coordinator for Grandville Avenue Arts and Humanities fostered her advocacy for students in academics, housing, anti-bullying, police discrimination, tutoring, mental health services, and educational accommodations. In her current role as the Bilingual Violence Prevention Coordinator at Safe Haven Ministries, Raquel works closely with schools and youth-serving organizations to promote violence prevention and foster healthy relationships.