Educators and Administrators

EMERJ-SafeNow’s approach to promoting healthy relationships and communication draws upon the most up-to-date research and theories  in the field of violence prevention, read more. Safe Now offers year-round sessions for students, educators and parents. Read more.

Our collaborative approach for schools and organizations  incorporates Oregon Common Core Standards and laws for sexual violence prevention, healthy sexuality promotion and child abuse prevention educaiton. To meet these standards we draw on a variety of curriculi, research, experience and knowledge.

The Healthy Teen Relationship Act (House Bill 4704), mandates that each school district adopt a policy addressing teen dating violence.

Erin’s Law: Child Sex Abuse Prevention (Senate Bill 856), requires  school districts to adopt developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive child sexual abuse prevention programming for students K-12.

Human Sexuality Education (OAR Rule 581-022-1440) requires schools to teach comprehensive, age appropriate, medically accurate sexuality education. This law also mandates child abuse prevention and healthy relationships instruction.  EMERJ-SafeNow uses the OWL, Our Whole Lives Matter, curriculum. Read more (link to Partnerships)

How We Work

Prior to any session, EMERJ-SafeNow representatives meet with school or organization representatives to discuss the needs of the population, collect data and provide relevant  research. Next, we  create a listening or sharing session with students, caregivers, teachers, local businesses, neighbors and school staff  to identify  safety concerns, resources, risk and protective factors of the population and community. During this process, we identify student and community leaders to assist with the development and facilitation of  EMERJ-SafeNow session/s.

As collaborators we take a multifaceted and cross disciplinary approach to addressing violence and personal safety, which is why we belive it is important to include as many members of the community as possible in the process and sessions.

EMERJ-SafeNow aims to  address  social norms, behaviors, values,  opinions, and organizational policies and procedures to promote healthy choices and increase personal safety.  Strategic sessions are prioritized according to the needs of the community, incorporating information shared during meetings and listening sessions, research, and knowledge and skills of EMERJ-SafeNow facilitators.  Throughout the process, we evaluate outcomes to determine effectiveness and results.

Advocacy

• Self-Care and wellness
• Mindfulness and healing after trauma
• Safety planning and the importance of safe adults
• Assertive communication
• Supportive allies and upstanding bystanders
• Community support systems
• Resources (locally, statewide and nationally)

Relationship Smarts

• Healthy sexuality, identity and body image
• Identifying healthy relationships and communication
• Identifying bullying behaviors and warning signs of suicide
• Setting personal limits and boundaries
• Interpreting social norms through the media
• Identifyiing abusive behaviors (child sexual abuse & dating and domestic violence)
• Affirmative consent (verbally and nonverbally)
• Gender stereotypes
• Equity and privilege
• Assertive communication techniques
• Education on Sexual Assault (harassment, stalking, rape)
  • Healing, resources, confidentiality and options for reporting

 Awareness and Street Smarts

• Intuition & awareness strengthening
• Identifying allies
• Being safe in the  environment
• Harassment and  bullying behaviors
• Human trafficking/commercial sexual exploitation
• Internet safety (cyberbullying, sexting and sextortion)

We offer a variety verbal and physical skills:

Verbal Techniques

• De-escalation & conflict resolution
• Negotiation & use of false compliance
• Yelling and breaking silence
• Being assertive vs being aggressive or passive
• Self-talk and internal thoughts

Physical Techniques

• Escapes
• Blocks
• Strikes & kicks
• Ground defense
• Protection in closed spaces
• Protect with  objects