'The Center' in Stamford Helps Keep Lower Fairfield County Students Safe with Free Prevention Programs

From The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling & Education.

The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling & Education (The Center) is pleased to announce its line-up of prevention education classes for the 2014/15 school year. Designed to promote emotional health as well as physical safety, The Center’s prevention programs are suitable for children in grades K-12, as well as college students, and are free of charge to any public or private school in Lower Fairfield County.

“Technology has given our students access to more things then we could possibly censor or control,” commented Jennifer Williams-Argenio, a Social Worker at Rogers International School in Stamford. “Our students rely on skills and lessons learned in order to keep themselves safe. These programs are an important tool in gaining these skills.” Over the last year alone, The Center has provided sexual abuse prevention programs to over 20,000 children and adults in the towns of: Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.

The Center’s Community Educators are fully trained crisis counselors and adept in communicating effectively to young audiences. “Their ability to deliver such sensitive material in a caring, supportive, and delicate way is to be commended,” noted Williams-Argenio. “One student’s comment was, ‘I didn’t think I was going to be comfortable with the workshop, but it ended up that I loved it and it was very important information to have.’ Coming from a thirteen year old, that says it all.”

Audience response technology is a new addition to The Center’s programs this year. “Young people have a lot to say, but might be reluctant to talk about sensitive topics in front of their peers,” explained Ivonne Zucco, The Center’s Executive Director. “Clickers allow students to answer questions anonymously and empower The Center’s educators to use this information to shape a live presentation. So far, our students have loved this addition to our teaching methodology.”

The Center’s Prevention Education Programs cover such topics as: Feeling Safe (including the difference between OK touches and NOT OK touches), Basic Internet and Social Media Safety, Sexual Harassment, Bystander Intervention, and Know Before You Go: Your Rights Regarding Sexual Assault on Campus. Schools, parents, and professionals who would like to learn more about these free programs should contact The Center at 203-348-9346, info@thecenter-ct.org.

Contributed photo.