Friday, April 26, 2013

Why do we need Communities for Safe Kids?


Children suffer higher rates of exposure to violence than do adults. In the first National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence (2009), 60.6% of children 17 and under had witnessed or experienced a type of direct violence in the past year. Almost half experienced physical assault, 1 in 4 had witnessed violence in their community or home, 1 in 10 experienced child maltreatment. More than 38% experienced more than one exposure in the last year.

Such exposure is responsible for a considerable burden of physical and mental health illness in the U.S.
A groundbreaking study of over 17,000 adults known as the ACE Study (Adverse Childhood Experiences) linked the majority of the leading causes of preventable death in the U.S. to the frequency and variety of exposures to violence adults had as children. www.ACEStudy.org

Universal, primary prevention programs that emphasize social and emotional learning with children are highly evidence based methods of violence reduction. Communities for Safe Kids supports the development of positive social and emotional skills to maximize every child's ability to participate successfully in school.

Communities for Safe Kids emphasizes community involvement; a key component of effective violence prevention. Research shows that effective violence prevention involves a child’s entire community – including teachers, school administrators, and families.

Communities for Safe Kids provides trainings for both teachers and parents before we work directly with students to ensure adults in a child’s life – parents, caregivers, teachers, school counselors and other community members – have access to relevant resources and tools they need to support these issues.

Communities for Safe Kids seeks to increasingly fill our community with positive and supportive conditions, leaving less and less room for violence and maltreatment.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Kids and unhealthy drinks

This is a very interesting read on how beverage companies have not decreased marketing exposure to youth for sugary drinks (and in fact, it nearly doubled from 2008 - 2010). Overall, it says, "sugary drinks are the top source of calories of calories in teens' diets."

Additionally, remember that many fruit drinks (which are often viewed as being a healthier choice) can contain just as much sugar and calories as a soda.

Check this article out for alternatives to soda and sugar-filled fruit drinks for your children:
Beverage Companies Market Unhealthy, Sugary Drinks to Children and Teens

Monday, October 17, 2011

Effecting change in bullying.

This is an interesting blog post from the New York Times that follows a study on bullying. http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/what-works-to-end-bullying/

The author makes some very good points:
  • Along with changing how to deal with being bullied, we also need to change how the bullies deal with themselves. We need to show how socially unacceptable it is to be a bully, not go along with it out of fear or wanting to be popular.
  • Bullying sticks with you into adulthood. It's not just something you have to "get through" as part of being young. It's unlikely you'll just forget about it later.
  • Many youth who are bullied are too ashamed to tell their parents or a trusted adult, so the bullying stays unnoticed.
Check out the full study here. What do you think?
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/10/10/findings.from.the.wheatley.school.pdf

Friday, October 14, 2011

Check it out!

Have you "liked" us on Facebook or Twitter yet? Kids on the Block Awareness Program features up-to-date news articles, tips and videos on helping kids grow up to be healthy and safe.

Come check out our latest post - a video series from Sesame Street on addressing bullying at an early age. Add us at: "Kids on the Block Awareness Program - Impact NW" or click on the icon on the side of this page!

Friday, October 7, 2011

It gets better.

Read this well-written piece about the importance of getting involved in bullying prevention. Bullying can be stopped, it can be uncovered and it can be helped. It gets better.

Ending Bullying: A Community Obligation

And if you haven't seen these videos from the White House, please watch. Very powerful:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/it-gets-better

Ending Bullying: A Community Obligation

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Bullying Prevention in Our Schools - A Community Forum

Kids on the Block Awareness Program will host a table tonight at the Bullying Prevention in our Schools Community Forum, taking place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Gresham High School. Come visit us and take part in some great sessions!

Hanif Fazal (an award winning youth empowerment advocate) will speak from 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. and break out sessions are from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. and 7:15 to 8 p.m. Topics included are:

  • Cyberbulling
  • Psychology of Bullies and Victims
  • Legal Rights and Resources
  • Strategies for Parents
  • Strategies for Students
  • Student Panel
  • School Policies

For more information, check out the program here:
http://www.gresham.k12.or.us/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=244661&sessionid=23c67bd0092cdf9db1bd09153e689f78
Kids on the Block Awareness Program will host a table at the Gre

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Happy 2011-2012 School Year!

The Kids on the Block Awareness Program is moving full speed ahead to perform in elementary schools across Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and Clark counties with the start of the new school year. (If you'd like to schedule a performance, please see find more info here.)

Kicking things off this year were some really great performances last night and today we'd like to share!

Puppeteers Rachel and Nancy performed the Healthy Choices show today at the Multisensory Learning Academy in Fairview. They talked to 150 students, grades K-2, about how to choose the right food and exercise to help them grow. The students had a ton of questions and shared what they were doing to take steps toward being healthy! 



Puppeteers Bob and Nancy performed their very first Kids on the Block show ever yesterday at Buckman Elementary's Back to School night. They were a fantastic duo, teaching children about how to stay away from bullies and what to do if they've been bullied themselves. More than 60 kids, grades K-3, watched the show and many of them eagerly asked questions afterward.



Check in again soon for more updates and resources from the Kids on the Block Awareness Program. In the meantime, go ahead and "like" us on Facebook to help get the word out about our educational performances! 

Friday, July 22, 2011

Sand in the City 2011!

Check out some photos on our Facebook page from this year's Yoshida's Sand in the City presented by Pacific Power! (Thanks, Sue Cocking!) Go here for more: http://on.fb.me/qemoTZ




Thursday, June 16, 2011

Summer 2011 newsletter!

We've posted the Kids on the Block Awareness Program Summer 2011 newsletter! Check it out for updates on your favorite puppets and puppeteers. Click on the "newsletter" tab above or go here

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Enjoying the sun!

Last week, a few Kids on the Block puppeteers got together to catch up, have fun and hang in the much-awaited sun. Let's hope it comes back soon!

Our volunteer puppeteers are what makes this program so successful! If you're interested in being a puppeteer or know someone who would be a good fit, find out more at the Impact NW website here.


Talking about gangs


Recently, our Kids on the Block Prevention Program at Marysville Elementary hosted Rob Ingram, director for Portland's Office of Youth Violence Prevention. Kids on the Block program supervisor Lynette Jelinek introduced him by reviewing some of the things the students had already learned about gangs and bullying.

Rob spoke to fifth and seventh grade students about how to stay away from the dangers of gangs, drugs and violence. The students had a ton of great questions and learned a lot about what a gang is and isn't, what to do if you're recruited into a gang, and how to keep your distance from going down the wrong path.

As you might know, Portland's gang activity is becoming more of an epidemic. News stories about gang violence like this one and this one are popping up all over the place. As a community, we must stop gang violence and make the choice to stay away from it.

For more information on preventing gang violence, visit:

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Move your body!

Did you hear about the new video Beyonce has out? It's all about moving your body and making healthy choices! Check out Let's Move for more information on how to get up and have fun!

Now watch this video and dance along!