I can't believe its been 2 years since I've updated this blog. I hope this renewed energy to posting will bring any readers back that were following it.
The year of 2010 was eventful and challenging all at the same time. We suffered from the economic downturn just as many other non-profit groups did. It was sad to see many have to close their doors due to lack of funding. We were more fortunate however. While donations were definitely down we managed to stay afloat and keep our personal safety curriculum and programs going. We did add some new and exciting programs to our library. In 2009 I had created a program called Kid Tips Kids: Keeping Private Places Private, an Activity Book with a teacher's manual and a student manual for ages 5 through 7-8. The pages for the kids included color pages of our sweet Kid Tips Kids with scenarios for them to read and talk about that put them in situations where they might have to change their clothes around someone older. In 2010 I combined the two books and this way the color pages could be reproduced at no additional cost to the client.
I also created our Bully Me No More program in 2010. These are a series of workshop manuals for instructors to put on a one to two hour workshop that is animated, energetic and humorous that teaches each age group (Kindergarten through 3rd grades; 4th through 6th and 7th through 12th) about the ways they can deal with and often avoid bully situations. It also teaches them when they are being bullied. Sometimes kids don't realize that when an adult mistreats them or abuses them in anyway its a form of bullying. We empower the kids with knowledge and skills in these dynamic workshops then send them home with booklets that are a great help to parents and the kids themselves in understanding the problem and solutions better.
The website is being updated as we speak (http://www.safenetwork.org) and a wonderful new addition is our Author's Corner. Here we have guest authors who write to and about kids and sexual abuse and learn more about what motivates them and what insight they may have on the subject. This month we are featuring Linda Garner the author of Some Secrets Hurt (http://somesecretshurt.com/). The book is special and teaches children that they don't have to keep secrets that are hurting them. Come and read her article and see if you don't agree that she is a special lady. We will be featuring other articles that she has written soon as well.
Come by and visit and see our new look. Please let us know if you have any ideas for new content, we are always open to great ideas.
Have a great week everyone, God Bless and please keep yourselves and children SAFE.
Susan Rogers
