2026–2027 School PSA Video Contest – #RespectIsTheStandard
Crime Stoppers of Houston’s 8th Annual PSA Contest for Texas High School Students
Healthy relationships should be built on trust, respect, communication, and boundaries. #RespectIsTheStandard challenges students to recognize the warning signs of unhealthy or abusive relationships, including controlling behavior, excessive jealousy, pressure, isolation, digital monitoring, and other forms of abuse. PSAs should empower teens to know their worth, set healthy boundaries, support their peers, and understand that respect should always be the standard in every relationship.
REGISTRATION OPENS SOON!
Registration opens November 9, 2026 • Closes January 29, 2027
What is Teen Dating Violence?
Teen dating violence is the physical, psychological, emotional, or sexual abuse within a dating relationship, including stalking. Unhealthy relationships can occur in person or electronically between a current or former dating partner. Educating students about healthy relationships and respecting boundaries is crucial in preventing victimization.
What Forms Can Teen Dating Violence Take?
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Physical Hitting, shoving, slapping, punching, kicking, throwing objects, biting, blocking you from leaving a room, using a weapon. Psychological Threatening to hurt themselves, you or others, name calling, shaming, bullying, put downs, keeping you away from friends and/or family, trying to control what you do or wear, telling you false things their friends/family say, etc. Sexual Guilting you into sexual activity, kissing or touching you when you don’t want it, birth control sabotage, coercion, leaving unwanted marks or hickies, taking/threatening to take and/or distributing naked pictures of you without your permission, etc. Digital Abuse Repeated texting and calling, posting sexual pictures of you online, posting lies about you, demanding passwords, checking your phone to see who you are communicating with, tracking you online. Stalking A pattern of harassing or threatening tactics that are unwanted and cause fear in the victim. |
Red Flag Behaviors • Pressures and/or forces you into having sex or going farther than you want. • Threatens to hurt themselves, you, your friends and/or family. • Checks and monitors cell phone and internet activity. Green Flag Behaviors • Setting and maintaining boundaries; and respecting personal space. • Manage uncomfortable emotions such as anger and jealousy in a healthy way. • Maintaining relationships with friends and family apart from your dating partner. Why Awareness Matters Raising awareness about healthy relationships helps teens recognize warning signs of unhealthy or abusive behaviors, establish boundaries, and understand what respect truly looks like. By encouraging these conversations early, we can empower young people to build safer, healthier relationships and recognize that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. |
What to Focus on in Your PSA
• Recognizing red flags in unhealthy or abusive relationships
• Understanding the difference between love and control
• Identifying excessive jealousy, manipulation, and emotional abuse
• Establishing healthy boundaries in dating relationships and friendships
• Recognizing digital abuse, including location tracking and social media monitoring
• Understanding consent, communication, and mutual respect
• Recognizing the importance of independence and personal identity
Why Participate?
Student teams who take part will have the chance to:
• Win exciting prizes and statewide recognition.
• Use creativity to make a real impact on peers across Texas.
• Help raise awareness about teen dating violence and encourage healthy, respectful relationships among students across Texas.
Your Voice Can Make a Difference
Together, we can create a generation where love is rooted in respect, trust, and equality — and where every teen feels empowered to recognize their worth, set boundaries, and speak up against unhealthy relationships. Your voice has power. Your message can break the cycle. Join us in redefining what healthy relationships look like and reminding teens everywhere that #RespectIsTheStandard.
2026–2027 PSA Contest – Registration, Rules & Resources
A teacher must sponsor high school students who wish to take part. Teams of one to four students must register online and must submit a 45-60 second original video.
| Registration: | November 9, 2026 – January 29, 2027 |
| Video Submission & Forms Deadline: | March 19, 2027 |
| Organization Voting & YouTube Campaign: |
March 22 – April 2, 2027 |
| Winning Teams Announcement: | April 9, 2027 |
| Awards Ceremony: | Tentatively May 14, 2027 |
Eligibility and Presentation:
The contest is open to all Texas high school students in grades 9–12. Each team must consist of ONE TO FOUR STUDENTS, as well as a TEACHER SPONSOR who will assist the team as needed and be responsible for submitting contest forms and the video PSA entry.
Participating schools must schedule and complete a virtual or in-person Teen Dating & Healthy Relationships presentation through the Crime Stoppers of Houston Safe School Institute during the 2026–2027 school year as a requirement of contest eligibility.
Request a Presentation: Request A Presentation | Crime Stoppers Of Houston
1.Entries must be 45–60 seconds (including credits) and only contain original and non-copyrighted material. No copyrighted music, branded material, logos, etc., may be used without express written permission from the copyright or trademark holder. Please utilize technology to mask logos or names of corporations that may appear in the video, unless specific permission is granted to use logos or company names.
2. All team members must not attempt to include or perform video stunts, dangerous situations, or film at dangerous locations during the production of the video. The Teacher Sponsor will guide teams through the planning and filming / submission process, in order to ensure safety and security for all students involved in the project.
3. The screening committee reserves the right to disqualify any submission for any reason deemed necessary. Submitted videos will not be eligible if they contain or appear to contain:
- Profane or obscene material or language
- Nudity, profanity, or gratuitous violence
- Endorsement of illegal drug use, alcohol abuse, prescription drug abuse, or any other illegal activity
- Derogatory characterization of any person or group
- Any copyrighted or trademarked materials without express written consent from the copyright or trademark holder
Prizes & Recognition
Winning teams will receive exciting prizes and recognition for their creativity, hard work, and dedication to raising awareness about teen dating violence.
Stay tuned for the announcement of our 2026–2027 PSA Contest winners!
Ready to Participate?
Follow the steps below to register your team, complete all applicable forms, and submit your PSA.
| STEP 1: | Register Your Team (Completed by Teacher Sponsor) |
| STEP 2: | Schedule the Required Presentation: Request a Presentation (Completed by Teacher Sponsor) |
| STEP 3: |
Complete the Applicable Release Forms (See the individual links and signer responsibilities below) |
| STEP 4: | Submit Your Original PSA (Completed by Teacher Sponsor-Deadline: January 29th, 2027 |
Release Form Links: (Click to Open)
• Parent/Guardian Authorization and Release (Parent or legal guardian of each participating student under 18)
• Actor Authorization and Release (Each actor age 18+; parent/legal guardian for a minor actor)
• Media Release (Participant age 18+; parent/legal guardian for a minor participant)
• Location Release (Teacher Sponsor)
Questions?
Have questions about the 2026–2027 PSA Video Contest? Please contact hcasey@crime-stoppers.org.
We’re happy to help!
2026 - 2026 Winners #NoMindLeftBehind
1st Place – Cypress Woods High School’s Cdub Media 1
WATCH THE PSA HERE!
2nd Place: 2nd Place – Turner College and Career High School’s Turner Video
WATCH THE PSA HERE!
3rd Place: Cypress Woods CDub Media 2
WATCH THE PSA HERE!
2024 - 2025 Winners #UnitedNotDivided
1st Place – Turner College and Career High School (Team Turner Video)
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEOS!
2nd Place: 2nd Place – Cypress Woods High School (Team CDubMedia1)
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEOS!
3rd Place: Jersey Village High School (Team JVTVODIE)
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEOS!
2023 - 2024 Winners #PreventToProtect
1st Place: JVTV from Jersey Village High School
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE!
2nd Place: Team 6 from Spring Woods High School
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE!
3rd Place: Cdub Media from Cypress Woods High School
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE!
2022 - 2023 Winners #SeeSomethingSaySomething
1st Place: Cypress Ridge High School – Ridge Media
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE!
2nd Place: Cypress Woods High School – CyWoods Team 1
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE!
3rd Place: Cypress Creek High School – Ridge Media
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE!
2021-2022 Winners #HumanTrafficking
1st Place – Cypress Ridge High School
2nd Place – Cypress Woods High School
3rd Place – William B. Travis High School
2020-2021 Winners #StopSextortion
1st Place Winners – Cypress Ridge High School
2nd Place Winners – Cypress Lakes High School
3rd Place Winners – Stephen F. Austin High School
2019-2020 Winners #ThinkBeforeYouPost
1st place – Cypress Lakes High School – Team Spartan Studios
2nd place – Robert Turner College and Career High School – Team Turner Video
3rd place – Montgomery High School – Team Law Enforcers
