Prevention Programs

NOVA’s Personal Safety Program builds body boundaries and teaches children about safe and appropriate touches or requests. Children are empowered to listen to their feelings, assertively say “no” in unsafe situations and tell a trusted adult.

Audience: Preschool & Kindergarten, Elementary (Grades 1-6)

NOVA’s practice-informed program teaches boundaries, safe and unsafe touches or requests, appropriate non-compliance, private and public places and how to seek help if needed. This program includes social stories, video, classroom activities and small group instruction. Multi-session lessons are tailored to meet the student’s needs.

Audience: For Children with Developmental Disabilities, Ages 7-12

Participants will learn the characteristics of healthy versus unhealthy relationships and be empowered to create healthy relationship in their lives.

Audiences: Middle School, High School

This program distinguishes between flirting and harassment while assisting participants to identify personal safety resources and skills.

Audiences: Middle School

This program dispels myths surrounding rape, while providing facts and information useful to students. It assists individuals in identifying ways to reduce their risk of becoming a sexual assault victim.

Audiences: Middle School, High School, Post-Secondary

Students learn about about what sexting is, as well as its connection to unhealthy relationships. This program also discusses the dangers of digital media and the possible ramifications of unsafe decision-making on digital platforms.

Audiences: Middle School, High School

NOVA’s Bully-Free program promotes positive attitudes and behaviors that support a caring environment. Team building and victim empathy are endorsed, utilizing interactive activities and video. Together with NOVA educators, students participate in skill-building challenges and learn the value of the “Upstander.”

Audience: Kindergarten, Elementary (Grades 1-6)

Cyberbullies demean and isolate victims using mobile devices to post, text and spread embarrassing pictures, messages or gossip. NOVA’s Cyberbullying program clarifies digital rights and responsibilities and teaches appropriate strategies and effective responses to handle cyberbullying. “Upstanders” and resources for support are discussed and encouraged.

Audience: Grades 5 & 6, Middle School

This program seeks to eliminate interpersonal violence by encouraging a change in the culture that accepts unkind behavior between peers. The program identifies the effects of harassment, emphasizes strategies for handling harassment and discusses the importance of bystanders.

Audiences: Middle School

Encourage Upstanders Peer Education Program is a bully prevention program that supports empathy, teamwork and friendship. NOVA educators coach and train high school student leaders to deliver NOVA’s Encourage program to elementary students within their school district. Under the guidance of NOVA educators, peer educators present the program and provide meaningful suggestions while facilitating break-out sessions incorporating skill-building activities. This program provides skills and resources for younger students receiving the program, as well as for the peer educators presenting the program. Peer educators develop leadership skills, presentation skills and confidence in their role as “ambassadors” of bullying prevention.

Audience: Peer Educators: High School

Gender Bullying: It’s No Laughing Matter encourages and supports a culture of equality, safety and respect and targets a covert form of bullying that intentionally uses gender to cause harm. The difference between joking and gender bullying is clarified. Students discuss rights, responsibilities, ways to appropriately respond to gender bullying, victim support and reporting policies.

Audience: Grades 5 & 6

iSmart 101 provides the foundation for Digital Citizenship. Appropriate, responsible behavior with regard to technology use is presented. Topics include password protection, internet tricks, “virtual friends”, reputations, sharing and downloading content and how to handle uncomfortable or dangerous situations.

Audience: Grades 4 & 5

Cyberbullies demean and isolate victims using mobile devices to post, text and spread embarrassing pictures, messages or gossip. NOVA’s Cyberbullying program clarifies digital rights and responsibilities and teaches appropriate strategies and effective responses to handle cyberbullying. “Upstanders” and resources for support are discussed and encouraged.

Audience: Grades 5 & 6, Middle School

Your Digital Footprint explores privacy in the digital world and promotes critical thinking regarding how digital content is potentially viewed and stored. Students apply this information in scenario activities designed to foster empathy and encourage responsible and respectful decision making.

Audience: Grade 6

This program is directed toward the use of digital technology and how students can protect themselves and their information while using the Internet with a computer, phone or gaming system. It also addresses social networking and the risks involved in using social media.

Audiences: Middle School, High School

This program informs students about what sexting is, and its connection to unhealthy relationships. The program also discusses the dangers of digital media and the possible ramifications of unsafe decision-making.

Audiences: Middle School, High School