COLUMBIA, SC - For National Youth Violence Prevention Week,
Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands (STSM) is celebrating schools in our community who are ensuring that youth have the necessary skills to prevent violence.
"STSM developed the Youth Violence Prevention Curriculum© more than 20 years ago," Kayce Singletary, STSM Community Education Director, said. "The focus of our primary prevention program is to provide skills-based education to empower young people to feel confident leading conflict resolution, setting strong personal boundaries, and having healthy communication. These skills are critical to keeping our schools and youth safe."
STSM's Youth Violence Prevention Curriculum© utilizes the principles of effective prevention programming to reduce the risk factors and increase the protective factors associated with the prevention of sexual and relationship violence. Trained facilitators use interactive activities, videos, songs, discussion, and lectures to teach youth about gender violence in the media, healthy boundary-setting and communication, online safety, dating violence, sexual harassment, and sexual assault.
The following schools have implemented the YVP curriculum this school year: Alice Drive Middle School, Ashley Hall, Bates Middle School, Blythewood High School, Brewington Academy, Brookland Casey High School, Busbee Creative Arts Academy, Charleston Collegiate, Children's Attention Home, Ebenezer Middle School, Garrett Academy, Greg Mathis Charter School, Keystone Substance Abuse Services, Lexington High School, Midlands Middle College, Morris Village, Moss Justice Center, Palmetto Place Shelter, Richland Northeast High School, Ridge View High School, River Bluff High School, South Pointe High School, Westwood High School, White Knoll High School, Wilson Hall, and York Middle School.
The goal of National Youth Violence Prevention Week is to raise awareness and to educate students, teachers, school administrators, counselors, school resource officers, school staff, parents, and the public on effective ways to prevent or reduce youth violence.
STSM's education programs comply with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control, the SC Comprehensive Health Education Act, and Erin's Law. If you are interested in bringing STSM's education programming to your school, faith community, or youth-serving organization or learning more, visit STSM's website at www.stsm.org.
Media inquiries should be directed to Layla Ferjani, STSM Director of Marketing, at
803-790-8208 or marketing@stsm.org.
###
About Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands
Sexual Trauma Services is a 501(c)3 private, nonprofit, United Way community partner, headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina. Formerly named Rape Crisis Network, Sexual Trauma Services serves Richland, Lexington, Newberry, Sumter, and Clarendon Counties. Sexual Trauma Services is committed to providing free support to survivors of sexual assault and abuse, including a 24-hour crisis hotline, hospital accompaniment, court accompaniment, personal advocacy, and individual and group counseling. In addition, Sexual Trauma Services works to educate the community to identify and prevent sexual violence. For more information or to donate online: www.stsm.org.
SCBIZtv is part of the SC Biz News family, serving 100,000 high-level business execs throughout South Carolina.
Click for more from SCBIZtv.
