Discovery Dating Testimonials

WHAT HAVE PEOPLE BEEN SAYING?

This first testimonial comes from a youth agency that used Discovery Dating in two settings: pregnant and parenting teens 16-22 years old and at-risk middle school youth (6^th & 7^th graders).

Discovery Dating was very well received.  Participants reported a significant amount of engagement and interest in utilizing Discovery Dating to think about their relationships with others.  Further evidence of this was recognized as program clients who were not utilizing Discovery Dating heard from those participants who were using the tool and requested the opportunity to access the tool as well. 

The cards consistently sparked in-depth, detailed conversation regarding the issues identified on the card and past, current, or future impact of those issues in the participant's relationships and life.  The cards provided a significant tool for honest and deep dialogue about issues and experiences that might not normally come up.  It allowed the kids to think independently and presented information in a way that wasn't about adult lecturing to them or telling them about what to do, but instead game them a framework for accessing their relationships with peers and coming to their own conclusions about whether those relationships were a positive or negative influence on their dreams and goals.  It was believed that the visual aspect of concepts throughout Discovery Dating was very much key in participants being able to come to their own conclusions about the building blocks of relationships, how these were playing out in their relationships and decisions/choice they might need to make.

One of the major strengths of the Discovery Dating tool is that it is very easy to make some accommodations to account for age, language and cultural issues without in any way changing the core elements/information/messages of the tool.  It was reported that kids were bring what they were learning home and discussing it with their parents/mentors.  The Discovery Dating tool was a natural fit with on-going programming and has provided an excellent framework for continuing to integrate building discernment skills around other issue areas (youth violence, gangs, substance abuse, peer pressure, etc) and helping the youth look at how their relationships with their peers and others can impact their goals and dreams.

-Youth organization working with at-risk, urban youth

Wow, looks like some amazing results. Nothing [I reviewed] strikes me as having validity problems. I want to commend you on evaluating this project, far too many people have negative connotations about evaluation and lose out on the power of statistics to sustain effective programs. - OBC, Epidemiologist who reviewed the results of the CBAC Abstinence program evaluation

I have learned so much from the Wise Women and Discovery Dating, I use these lessons with my own children at home and with my other classes all the time.

-TB, Elementary School Teacher

It is an especially effective program providing indepth education and activities to help youth develop a strong sense of self and of what they want to get out of relationships, whether romantic, platonic, business or others.  It provides activities for increasing the connectedness between teens and their parents or other important adults in their lives.

-ND, Abstinence Professional

Discovery Dating has had a huge impact on my life.  I started to look at myself and realized that in my current relationship, we have way too many red blocks.  The more I started to write, the more I wished that Discovery Dating was around earlier.  I thank Creator everyday that your Discovery Dating came into my life and has helped me see the light.

-JV, Youth Program Professional

We got to hammer out a lot of those little bitty details that, if they're not taken care of in a positive way, can tear a relationship apart.  The cards allowed us to bring up subjects we might not have been comfortable being point blank with.  It really cuts down the time it takes to figure a person out.  …The feeling of desperation was gone.  It gives you a different vibe about yourself, a confidence, and people notice.

­-VH, Discovery Dating participant