(Courtesy of Project SARAH) Just a few weeks before summer break, our team of therapists and educators at Project SARAH visited schools in the greater Bergen County area. The goal: provide teachers and other staff with the tools needed to recognize issues of abuse, and to offer children tools for keeping themselves safe.
For one of these schools, our visit came at an especially critical time. A student had accused a staff member of inappropriate touch. Given various circumstances around the accusation, abuse or misconduct appeared unlikely. Even so, our role at Project SARAH was clear: to work with the school in their thorough investigation of the alleged event, while skillfully and sensitively supporting its entire community. We offered additional staff training on appropriate boundaries and conduct according to school policy. Meanwhile, our team of presenters visited every classroom in the school, providing the vital Magen Yeladim safety program to ensure every student who went home that day left with age-appropriate skills for protecting themselves from abuse.
As for the child who had accused the school staff member, following the presentation, she was able to distinguish between touch that is okay and touch that is inappropriate—or unwelcome. Later, she spoke with her parents about how she felt her experience fell into the latter category. Now that this student understood these nuances, she was empowered to effectively report any behaviors that make her uncomfortable in a way that accurately describes what happened.
For us at Project SARAH, this story speaks volumes about why we do what we do—and why we so often hear from adults, children and families: “I wish I’d known about you sooner. I had no idea you were doing this.”
It’s true: Much of the work we do in the community with survivors of abuse happens quietly behind the scenes, to protect the confidentiality and safety of clients have been through the unspeakable. But when it comes to our prevention and outreach efforts to safeguard the well-being of our children and families, we don’t want to stay quiet.
This year alone, we have partnered with over 20 schools, camps and shuls. Our team of mental health professionals and educators has presented to staff and students at community educational institutions such as Bruriah, RYNJ, TABC and Yavneh. We’ve trained counselors at day camps such as Acheinu, Summer Playland and the Tenafly JCC, and group leaders at Rinat Israel, Bais Medrash of Bergenfield and Young Israel of Teaneck.
For us, the feedback from the community is a testament to the vital need our work fills. One teacher, after a presentation in her classroom, shared how engaged her students were in a discussion about healthy relationships. Parents have expressed gratitude for guidance on how to discuss internet safety at home. And perhaps most telling of all: Students who attended Project SARAH’s Magen Yeladim
Safety Programs in elementary school have invited us back to their high schools years later to discuss prevention.
Erik Kessler, executive director at the Moriah School, expressed his appreciation, stating, “Thank you for sending a team to train the entire Moriah faculty and staff over the past month. Your trainers were professional, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with. I look forward to partnering with you in the future.”
Another school administrator remarked, “Thank you so much for bringing your program to our entire school community in such an impactful way… We truly appreciate your partnership and look forward to continuing the conversation.”
We feel honored and privileged that these esteemed institutions call upon us—partner with us—revealing our shared commitment to keeping all children and families safe. We look forward to partnering with over 15 schools and shuls over the next month to help prepare their staff to keep our children safe. For more information about Project SARAH or to plan a training session for your organization, contact us at [email protected] or 973-777-7638 ext. 300.
