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Prevention & Resources

Being Safe in a Relationship

It's okay to know your boundaries and to speak up about what you want and what you do not want.

1. Know your limits. How far do you want to go with a date?
2. Communicate your limits clearly.
3. Back up your words with a strong voice and body language.
4. Respect yourself. Know that what you want counts.

Healthy and Unhealthy and/or Abusive Relationships

Healthy Relationships

A relationship is healthy if each involved is supported in being the person he or she wants to be.

A relationship that limits, manipulates, or damages a person’s sense of self is unhealthy and can be harmful or abusive. Be honest when assessing your relationship on the following factors—you owe it to yourself!

• Mutual respect: Value your partner for who she or he is, not who you want them to be or become. You should expect the same in return.  Does your partner say, do, and believe things that you can support?
• Trust: Share your thoughts and feelings with another person without fear of being hurt physically, spiritually, cognitively, or emotionally. Can you be yourself without fear of criticism or judgment? Can your partner trust you in the same way?
• Honesty: Be truthful in your words. Do you tell the truth? Do you believe what your partner tells you?
• Support: Help your partner in being his or her best; you should get the same in return.
• Fairness and equity: You and your partner are giving equally to the relationship. Do you feel like you almost always give, or give in? Or do you expect your partner to do it your way? Healthy relationships involve give and take, compromise, and negotiation—by all parties.
• Separate identities: Relationships are healthy when each individual shares their true self with their partner. Do you feel like you are losing yourself or your unique identity?
• Effective communication: Do not get caught in the trap of believing your partner should know what you want, need, mean, or feel. Humans are rarely good mind-readers, especially in intimate relationships. Do you and your partner take time to communicate? Does your partner really listen and work to understand you? Do you do this for your partner?

Here are some guidelines for maintaining a healthy sexual relationship:

• It is the responsibility of the person initiating sexual contact to ask for and clearly receive affirmative consent before acting.
• If someone is incapacitated by alcohol or another substance, that person is considered unable to make clear decisions about affirmative consent. Initiating sexual contact with someone incapacitated by substances is a form of abuse. 
• If your partner expresses uncertainty or says no, it is your responsibility to STOP. Healthy sexual relationships are based on continuous communication about affirmative consent.

Unhealthy and/or Abusive Relationships

Harmful and abusive behaviors may come in many forms, and may include the following:

• Sexual Violence: Proceeding with sexual activity without affirmative consent.
• Intimidation: Actions, gestures, or facial expressions used to make another fearful.
• Emotional abuse: Name calling or humiliation causing the other to feel unworthy.
• Isolation: Limiting interactions and information in order to establish control.
• Minimizing, Denying, or Blaming: Making light of the abusive behaviors causing the other to doubt their own feelings or perceptions.
• Dominance: Treating another as a lesser being and controlling all decisions.
• Economic abuse: Limiting another’s access to work, money, food, or other resources to exert control.
• Coercion or Threats: Making threats to harm someone in order to control another’s behaviors.

Understanding Cyber-bullying in College

Contact Resources

17³Ô¹Ï Title IX Coordinator

Catalina Rodriguez
Dean of Students

Campus Center, Office 2003
650.949.7389 
fhtitleix@foothill.edu

Hours: Monday- Thursday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM-3:00 PM

Campus Police

For non-emergencies, call 650.949.7313

For emergencies, call 911 or 408-924-8000
Campus Center, Room 2103

Hours: Mon-Fri, 7:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. | Closed on Weekends & Holidays. For emergencies, call 911 and they will be able to assist you 24/7.

Student Health Services Office

Campus Center, Room 2126
Phone: 650.949.7243
Student Health Services website

Hours: Monday- Thursday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM-3:00 PM

Mental Health and Wellness Office

Campus Center, Room 2120
Phone: 650.949.7910
Psychological Services website

Hours: Monday- Thursday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM-3:00 PM

eCheckup

How have you been feeling? Take a confidential eCheckup screening to see how we can help support you. You'll find useful information on topics such as alcohol and marijuana education; managing anxiety, and planning for well-being.

Clickto take you to e-Checkup

Off Campus

24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 408.287.3000
Free confidential crises counseling and peer support groups.

Visit website for hours

Rape Abuse and Incest National Network
1.800.656.4673

Visit website for hours

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