Help Kids Make Wise Choices

An evening with Anita Roberts (Safe Teen Founder) and Mayor Pamela Goldsmith Jones.

Date: Thursday, March 3, 2011

Sponsored by: Northshore Auto Mall

On Thursday, March 3, 2011 Family Services of the North Shore with Safe Teen founder Anita Roberts, Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones and Bill Pozzobon brought Safe Teen’s unique message of youth empowerment and assertiveness to the Kay Meek Theatre. With their engaging presentation styles, Anita and Bill offered parents and youth powerful tools for dealing with the “creepy guys,” social exclusion and the realities of sexual assault and sexual harassment that kids face every day. Safe Teen offers parents, teachers and students the tools to respond to difficult situations with wisdom and strength when the advice of “ignore them and tell an adult” just won’t work.

In the second half of the evening West Vancouver Mayor Pamela Goldsmith Jones spoke with Anita Roberts in depth about some of the skills SafeTeen brings into the classroom with their school-based workshops for kids in grades 4 through 12.

Response to the program was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees felt they had a better understanding of the issues their children faced, felt more able to talk to their children about how to protect themselves and had the skills to coach their kids through difficult times.

A few comments from attendees:

· “...[this was] helpful for me as an adult woman.”

· “This was hugely powerful and effective – very inspiring and well-structured – I have a better plan.”

· “An empowering experience indeed!”

· “As an educator I got great ideas to help my students.”

If you would like to bring this program to your school or organization, please contact Valerie Lev Dolgin, FSNS Safer Places for Children & Youth Coordinator, at 604-988-5281 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Congratulations to Inga Angermann for winning the draw prize of a brand new Blackberry Torch Smartphone! A big thanks to our corporate sponsor, Telus for providing this generous gift.

“It is clearly not enough to say, don't do drugs, abstain from sex / use condoms. We need to be able to teach our children how to negotiate these potentially life-altering moments -- How to say, no and stay cool. How to walk away without giving up power. How to access the part of themselves that can make wise choices - even in the heat of the moment.” ~ Anita Roberts

The last Wednesday of February is known as Anti-Bullying Day in Canada. It's also known as "Pink Shirt Day". It was originally started as a protest against a bullying incident at Nova Scotia high school. On this day participants are asked to wear pink to symbolize a stand against bullying. Family Services supports this all year round in the following ways.

Creating a Social Safety Net

 

This social safety net teaches young girls how to get away from a “creepy guy” at a bus stop and helps young boys not be a target of the lunchtime bully. It supports teachers and school counsellors who spend too much time managing children who “act out” in class. It helps parents understand the world their children are living in and gives them concrete tools to help their children develop into “wise women” and “solid guys.”

 

Who will be involved?

Family Services of the North Shore’s (FSNS) clinical counselling staff will partner with Safeteen International’s Founder Anita Roberts and her “Agents for Change” facilitators to provide comprehensive education and support to students, parents, teachers, administrators and school counsellors. We would also be pleased to invite Christine Fedina, Manager Northshore Auto Mall, to participate in the program development.

 

The Pre-Teen Program

The Pre-teen program is all about prevention and protection.  Preventing unhealthy choices, redefining what is “cool," coping with peer pressure and protecting the fragile self-esteem of the young girls and boys who are just stepping into the potentially treacherous world of adolescence.

 

What will the program look like?

• FSNS will liaise with School Parent Advisory Council and Principal to determine specific issues at the school.
• FSNS will coordinate the program.
• Youth workshops (8) for grades 4, 5, 6 and 7. Each workshop is 3 hours and girls and boys are in separate classes with same gender facilitators from Safe Teen. FSNS counsellors will be present.
• In partnership with School Parent Advisory Council, FSNS and Anita Roberts, a 2 hour workshop for all parents will be facilitated.
• In partnership with the School Principal, FSNS and Anita Roberts will facilitate a separate 3 hour workshop for teachers, school counsellors, and administrative staff.
• Resources for parents, children and teachers will be made available by FSNS.
• Follow up support is offered to all enrolled in program.

 

If you are interested in creating this type of program at your school, please contact Valerie Lev Dolgin, FSNS Safer Places for Children & Youth Coordinator, at 604-988-5281 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .