The district is fortunate to have been awarded a $9,100 grant for child assault prevention training in grades K-6 this year. New Jersey Child Assault Prevention (NJ CAP) is a statewide community based prevention program. With a motto “All Children Deserve to be Safe, Strong and Free” ®, the CAP program seeks to reduce children’s vulnerability to abuse, neglect and bullying by providing comprehensive prevention workshops for children, parents/guardians and school staff.

Elementary workshops are one hour classroom workshops facilitated by three CAP facilitators. Using roleplays and guided group discussion, the classroom workshop trains children to recognize potentially dangerous situations and to make effective use of the options available to them when dealing with such a situation. CAP emphasizes self assertion, peer support and communication with a trusted adult as prevention strategies. CAP approaches the question of assault within the framework of basic human rights. Following a brief summary, children are told that CAP facilitators will be available for further discussion.

School staff members will receive training prior to the workshops so they are prepared to make them as effective as possible. There will also be a parent/guardian training session on November 21 at 9 a.m. in the Brookside School Media Center.