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How to Get Started
The Healthy Relationships Toolkit (HeaRT) Guide to Implementation is an overarching roadmap for local health departments and community-based organizations. The guide will help you decide if HeaRT is right for your community and how to get started. It also provides information, strategies, tips, and some of the “nuts and bolts” necessary to successfully start and sustain the model. There are four phases with multiple activities that walk you through several key goals including:
Understanding the HeaRT Model
- Learn about the development and goals of HeaRT
- Get familiar with all seven components of the model
- Explore HeaRT
HeaRT is a comprehensive model to prevent teen dating violence. It consists of four areas: Community, Community and Relationship, Relationship, and Individual. Components of the HeaRT Toolkit under Community include the Capacity Assessment and Planning Tool, Guide to Using Indicator Data, and Guide to Informing Policy. Under Community Relations components include Training for Educators and i2i What R U Looking 4? - Youth Communications Program. The Relationships area of the model includes Parent Programs-- which consists of Families for Safe Dates - 8th Grade, HeaRT for Parents - 7th Grade, and Parents Matter! for HeaRT - 6th Grade. The Individual area of the model includes Youth Programs-- which consists of HeaRT - 6th Grade, HeaRT - 7th Grade, and Safe Dates - 8th Grade.
Assessing Capacity to Implement HeaRT and Engage Partners
- Identify and engage partners
- Complete the General Capacity Assessment for Violence Prevention Tool (G-CAT)
- Develop a community advisory board
Preparing for Implementation
- Create a logic model
- Create an implementation action plan
- Plan for your budget and staffing
- Develop a recruitment plan for schools and parents
- Adapt program materials (as needed)
Planning for Evaluation and Sustainability
- Plan for program monitoring and evaluation
- Implement policy and indicators components of HeaRT
- Plan for sustainability
Download the Guide to Implementation accessible PDF for details on how to carry out each phase of planning for implementation. Don't forget to click on hyperlinks within the PDF for additional materials and tools.
You can also print the guide for quick reference.