Health-Promoting Relationships (HPR)

Strong relationships are a powerful part of prevention

By enhancing a “way of being,” Health-Promoting Relationships (HPR) help prevention professionals intentionally strengthen connection, enhance protective factors, and support healthy youth development through the work they are already doing.

HPR is not a stand-alone program, but rather a practical framework that can be used across prevention settings to strengthen how professionals engage youth, families, colleagues, and community partners. HPR is also a great source to help organizations create environments where people can thrive. By helping professionals be more intentional about connection and relationships, HPR can strengthen the way prevention shows up in everyday work.

The HPR Quick Start Guide can help you:

The majority of protective factors in prevention rely on relationships to be developed. Health-promoting relationships expand prevention beyond programs by emphasizing the role trusted adults play in supporting youth well-being. Programs and fidelity still matter, but positive, meaningful adult-youth relationships are fundamental to preventing mental and behavioral health risks and supporting the effectiveness of prevention programs.

Recognize where relationship-centered prevention is already happening
Identify practical ways to strengthen connection and protective factors
Reflect on individual and organizational practices
Choose concrete next steps to apply HPR in your own setting

Download The Toolkit

HOW TO BUILD HPR

Four ways of being.

Create the Environment — Create positive, safe youth-centered physical and emotional environments where full presence, youth voice, and growth are valued.
Facilitate Connection — Engage authenticity, patience, respect, empathy, honesty, nonjudgment, kindness, and humility to build trust through meaningful connection.
Use Micro-Skills (Positive Words & Actions) — Be fully present. Notice and affirm strengths. Be curious. Reflect back without judgment. Activate youth agency. Support youth in navigating challenges. Advocate for youth.
Grow Abilities in Youth — Seize opportunities to support youth in behaving in alignment with values, growing from challenges, making wise decisions, caring about others, and connecting with their community.

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All media on this page is subject to the existing PAStop usage guidelines. These messaging materials use elements from the Penington Institute International Overdose Awareness Day Initiative (with permission), as well as elements from the CPA+PAStop “Anyone Can Make The Difference” theme.