Celebrate Safety

This Celebrate Safety program, to be used in the classroom, was created for SOC-UM, a non-profit organization dedicated to community awareness, children's education, and prevention of child abuse.

Due to budget restrictions on education, this program has been funded entirely through private donations.

Any reproductions, changes, or modifications must be approved by Safeguarding Our Children - United Mothers (SOC-UM).

For additional information write: SOC-UM 1878 West 11th Street, Box 191 Tracy, California 95376, or call (209) 832-0590.

an index to all Celebrate Safety teaching materials is here.

acknowledgments

To the Pre-School, Kindergarten, and First Grade Teacher:

It is of vital importance that children learn to protect themselves from abuse and to find help if they are abused. As a caring professional working with young children and a full curriculum, it can be very difficult to find a workable program that addresses child abuse and its prevention. To help in this regard, SOC-UM designed Celebrate Safety for pre-school, kindergarten, and first grade. The Story of the Little Child was written to help children develop an awareness of abuse in a reassuring manner. Smart About Strangers helps children develop an awareness of stranger danger with an emphasis on children's empowerment. Parts of the Yell and Tell portion were adapted from Yell and Tell -- a child abduction and molestation awareness clinic -- created by Rebecca Mahoney, M.A., who specializes in children's counseling. Ms. Mahoney currently lives in Ohio.

Celebrate Safety is designed to be completed in four days or segments. You certainly may modify the time frame to fit your students' needs.

Please inform parents about this program in advance and invite them to participate in the lessons. Try to approach this program as a celebration of children's empowerment. Have refreshments and fun, reassuring activities following these activities. Above all, help the children feel safe and secure throughout the program.

It can sometimes feel overwhelming to, perhaps, be the one positive trusted adult with whom a particular child has regular contact, but remember you truly can make the difference in a child's life. By helping one child now you will be helping future generations of children and our society at large. This is no small feat and is one of which you should be proud. Good luck, and please do contact SOC-UM with any of your comments, questions, and concerns.

Sincerely,

Janiece Hopper,
Director of Education

For teachers, here's a sample letter to be sent to the parents/guardians announcing the Celebrate Safety program.

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