Prevention Programs for Students

Preschool and Elementary

Creating Safe and Caring Environments

Preschool and Kindergarten programs are 35-45 minutes in length. All other programs 45-60 minutes in length.

Companion Parent and Teacher programs are available for all NOVA student programs.

For additional information please contact Alyssa Davis, alyssa.davis@novabucks.org or (215) 343-6543 Ext. 6705

Building Body Boundaries – Personal Safety

Preschool, Kindergarten – Grade 3

Age-appropriate programs that build body boundaries and teach children about safe and appropriate touches or requests. Children are empowered to listen to their feelings, say “no” assertively in unsafe situations, and tell a trusted adult.

Safe Touches

Grade 2

Safe Touches is an evidenced-based prevention program presented to children in their 2nd grade classrooms. Two trained NOVA educators use puppets to provide developmentally appropriate content about body safety. Children learn about what they can do if they feel unsafe. For more information, click here.

Bully-Free

Kindergarten – Grade 3

These interactive programs work to prevent bullying by encouraging positive attitudes, compassionate behaviors, and caring environments. Students explore feelings and actions, learn the value of kindness, and how to be an “Upstander.”

Gender Bullying – It’s No Laughing Matter

Grade 6

Targeting a covert form of bullying that intentionally uses gender to cause harm; this program discusses victim impact, clarifies the difference between joking and gender bullying and reviews students’ rights, responsibilities, appropriate responses and resources for support.

iSmart Series

Specific age-appropriate topics for upper elementary

NOVA’s digital series provides the foundation for becoming responsible digital citizens.

  • iSmart 101 – Grade 4
  • Cyberbullying Prevention – Grade 5
  • Digital Footprint – Grade 6

For additional information, please contact Alyssa Davis – alyssa.davis@novabucks.org

4 u 2 Know: Telling Our Stories

Appropriate for students ages 10 to 13

NOVA’s 4 u 2 Know program supports personal safety for tweens as they become more autonomous. The 4 u 2 Know program develops critical thinking skills, strategies for safe interpersonal boundaries, and ways to seek help. As youth begin to enjoy increased independence both offline and online, many do not recognize possible “tricks” that may lead to victimization. Blurring boundaries, giving attention, and gaining trust are all part of the grooming process that starts long before an abusive act occurs.

Students view three video vignettes depicting unsafe situations. These vignettes connect to personal safety strategies and support resources. NOVA educators debrief students after each vignette.

Child sexual abuse thrives in a world of silence, secrecy, and shame. One in 9 girls and 1 in 20 boys under the age of 18 experience sexual abuse or assault. These experiences often go unreported for many reasons. The child may feel responsible for the abuse or worry that they will not be believed. NOVA seeks to provide an environment where every student feels safe and respected. NOVA staff will identify themselves as mandated reporters but will encourage students to seek support if they feel safe to do so. Should a child choose to disclose, they will know they will be supported and believed by NOVA staff.

Middle School

Creating Safe and Caring Environments

For additional information please contact Alyssa Davis, alyssa.davis@novabucks.org or (215) 343-6543 Ext. 6705

Healthy Relationships in a Digital World

This program supports awareness and skills for respectful relationship building, especially in our Digital World.

Harassment

This program seeks to eliminate interpersonal violence by encouraging a change in the culture that accepts unkind behavior between peers. It identifies the effects of harassment, emphasizes strategies on effectively handling harassment, and the importance of positive bystander intervention.

Sexual Harassment

Focusing on discussion and activities on sexual elements of harassment, this program distinguishes between flirting versus harassment. Students will identify personal safety resources and skills.

Understanding Sexual Violence

Grade 9

Through this victim-centered Sexual Violence prevention program, students will have a clear understanding of what constitutes rape and other forms of sexual violence. Affirmative consent is defined while risk reduction and bystander intervention strategies are explored. Support and resources for victims are provided as well as strategies for how to handle a disclosure of sexual violence from a friend.

Cyberbullying Prevention

Creating awareness of cyberbullying behaviors, this program fosters empathy, and urges students to stand up for others who are being bullied, whether it is in school, online, or both.

Internet Safety

Offering knowledge and tools for risk reduction in adverse online situations including cyberbullying, sexting, and internet predators.

The Impact of Sexting

Students recognize the perils and the legal consequences associated with taking, sharing, or receiving explicit photos. Risk reduction and resources for support will be included.

Respectful Citizenship

Recognizing the negative impact of unkind behaviors and seeking to encourage a positive cultural change, this program spotlights and identifies the importance of Upstander behavior in harassing situations.

High School

Creating Safe and Caring Environments

For additional information please contact Katie Sanford, katie.sanford@novabucks.org or (215) 343-6503 Ext. 6702

Customizable programs are available upon school request.

Healthy Relationships

NOVA’s Healthy Relationships program helps students develop and maintain respectful, healthy attitudes and behaviors in their relationships with others. Key aspects of healthy relationships are explored and red flags of unhealthy relationships are identified.

Internet Safety

Offering knowledge and tools for risk reduction in adverse online situations including cyberbullying, sexting, and internet predators.

Sexting & Sextortion

NOVA’s Sexting and Sextortion program helps students recognize the potential dangers associated with taking, sharing, or receiving explicit photos. This program will also discuss sextortion as a crime and what can be done if someone is being sextorted. Risk reduction and resources for support will be included.

Understanding Sexual Violence

In NOVA’s victim-centered Understanding Sexual Violence prevention program, students will have a clear understanding of what constitutes rape and other forms of sexual violence. Consent is defined and bystander intervention strategies are explored. Support and resources for victims are provided as well as strategies for how to handle a disclosure of sexual violence.

Bystander Intervention

NOVA’s Bystander Intervention program will give students tangible strategies to intervene in situations of potential violence. We will discuss the reasons why an individual chooses to intervene as well as why they choose not to, and encourage students to make the choice to be an Upstander however possible when witnessing potential violence. This program is a great add-on to any of our other programs!

Human Trafficking 101

NOVA’s Human Trafficking 101 program will teach students the definition and types of human trafficking, red flags to look for, as well as dispel myths about what trafficking looks like. Support and resources for victims are provided as well as strategies for how to handle a disclosure of trafficking.

Grooming: Awareness & Prevention

NOVA’s Grooming: Awareness & Prevention program introduces the topic of grooming as a form of sexual violence. We will discuss the three major steps an adult takes to groom a child or a teen: meet, gain trust, & exploit. We will equip students with the knowledge of boundary-blurring behaviors and will discuss why some victims of grooming may not realize they are being exploited. This program will also discuss NOVA as a resource for the community as well as give time for students to ask questions regarding the grooming process.
Child sexual abuse thrives in a world of silence, secrecy, and shame. One in 9 girls and 1 in 20 boys under the age of 18 experience sexual abuse or assault. These experiences often go unreported for many reasons. The child may feel responsible for the abuse or worry that they will not be believed. NOVA seeks to provide an environment where every student feels safe and respected. NOVA staff will identify themselves as mandated reporters but, will encourage students to seek support if they feel safe to do so. Should a child choose to disclose, they will know they will be supported and believed by NOVA staff.

Post-Secondary

Additional offerings are available through NOVA’s Training Institute

For additional information please contact Jamie Pfister, Jamie.Pfister@novabucks.org or (215) 343-6543 Ext. 6706