Principal's Pen
January 5, 2024
SAFE TALK is a prevention program of Kids in Crisis. It incorporates the Child Assault Prevention Program (CAPP), an international program that began in 1978. CAPP is under the auspices of the National Assault Prevention Center and is currently implemented in 32 states and 10 other countries. Kids in Crisis was asked to bring this program into Connecticut and the goal is to eventually have it in every elementary school in the state. SAFE TALK uses this copyrighted curriculum and is an empowerment program for children school ages kindergarten to grade six. SAFE TALK teaches children that everyone has the right to be “Safe Strong and Free” and what they can do in order to maintain these rights.
There are three components of the SAFE TALK program:
School / Staff in-service
Parent / Family in-service
Children’s classroom workshops
School / Staff In-service
It is crucial for all school staff to be fully educated about child abuse and its prevention, since anyone in a school community might be approached by a child for help. The school staff in-service is
presented prior to the children’s workshop. Topics reviewed are:
How the SAFE TALK program works and important themes
The teachers role in the workshop
How Kids in Crisis is a support to the school both during the
workshop and throughout the year
Reviewing types of abuse
Responding to a child who discloses abuse and the chain of
command that would be utilized.
Parent / Family In-service
Much of the information presented in this in-service is similar to that of the school / staff in-service. However, the emphasis in the parent/family component is on the prevention of abuse by increasing
awareness and communication between the adult and the child. Strategies are offered for initiating, recognizing and capitalizing on opportunities for discussion. This presentation is also held prior to the
children’s workshop. Topics discussed at the parent/family in-service
include:
An overview of the children’s classroom workshop
Role of the parent/family in prevention
Strategies for increasing communication about potential dangerous
situations
How Kids in Crisis is a support to the family 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week
Suggestions for introducing and reinforcing prevention skills in the
home
Children’s Classroom Workshop
This one hour workshop is led by three SAFE TALK volunteers, one primary facilitator and two role players. Using role plays and group discussion, the classroom workshop teaches children to recognize
potentially dangerous situation and to empower them with the skills to keep themselves safe. A Kids in Crisis staff member is always present during the workshop.
The workshop begins with a discussion about “rights”. It is reviewed that every person has the right to be “SAFE, STRONG and FREE” and what children can do in order to maintain these rights. The role-plays
include three different scenarios: a bully situation (child against child), a stranger and a known adult. The role-plays are used to provide situations about which children can brainstorm successful safety
strategies. Each role-play is enacted twice. The first time the SAFE TAL volunteer portrays a child who does not have the skills to keep themselves SAFE, STRONG and FREE . Group discussion follows,
focusing on options available to the child in the role-play. These strategies include self assertion, peer support, adult support, self-defense and most importantly, telling a trusted adult. The role-plays
are then redone successfully, including the skills that were generated by the class discussion. The children are given an opportunity to participate in the role-plays to practice SAFE, STRONG and FREE
behaviors.
In the final role-play, the classroom teacher plays themselves as supportive adult responding to a child’s request for help. This gives children an opportunity to visualize what would happen if they needed to talk to someone about a problem. At the end of the classroom workshop, all of the children are given the opportunity to participate in REVIEW TIME. This is when the students are able to talk privately with a SAFE TALK volunteer and review if they have any questions about the program.
