K.I.D.S.
Personal Safety Program

The KIDS Program has been designed to instruct sexual abuse identification and prevention through the use of developmentally appropriate concepts and skills. The KIDS Program engages Manatee County children in group education and provides them with an opportunity to learn about sexual abuse in a comfortable manner. Personal Safety information is available in a variety of languages: Stories Puppet Shows Games Discussion Group Interaction Role Playing Positive Reinforcement Parent Information Teacher Guides Pre-School - Third Grade This 30 minute presentation includes a lively puppet presentation, group interaction, story telling, and discussion. Curriculum will focus on the "touching rule" and important safety measures. Children will learn to identify private parts and gain a knowledge of body ownership. Because this age group contains the greatest number of high risk children, emphasis is placed on allocating support persons in the event of attempted or actual sexual abuse. The presentation will utilize follow up activity packets and parent letters for continued reinforcement of this information. Fourth - Fifth Grade This 45 minute presentation covers basic personal safety information and introduces a video. "Yes You Can Say No" is a film designed to help children build assertiveness skills to protect themselves and deal with everyday challenges. Group discussion, activities, and role play will offer children an opportunity to demonstrate comprehension of the personal safety rules, passive / assertive reactions, and display their ability to perform the concepts. Sixth - Eighth Grade Children at this age have special circumstances which may increase their vulnerability. For one, this age group is more likely to be without adult supervision after school hours. This one hour presentation will aid in increasing their ability to protect themselves in potentially harmful situations. Another issue for these children, is the transition to middle and high school - becoming a teenager. The curriculum focuses on ways to deal with peer pressure, relationships, and decision making. Group interaction, discussion, and role play will incorporate personal information with these skills which may be lacking in children who are at risk for sexual assault. Teaching these skills can empower children to recognize, resist, and report sexual assault. High School This one hour presentation is an essential supplement to the Life Management curriculum, typically provided in the tenth grade. Teens in this age group are faced with more involved dating situations. This curriculum is designed to help them to identify situations of violence, learn about dating safety, and provide reminder information regarding child sexual abuse. It will focus on increased self esteem and assertiveness, encourage teens to set boundaries in relationships, and provide skills for them to say no to forced sexual advances. The presentation includes a video, interactive group activities, role playing and discussion. The KIDS Program is offered for youth ages 3-17 in: Pre-Schools Public Schools Private Schools Youth Groups Community Centers Summer Camps & Kid's Clubs Residential Facilities ...and just about anywhere else!