Student Anti-Violence Education
SAVE Schools – Student Anti-Violence Education, is built around the fundamental concept that understanding others and appreciating differences are key to our future, rather than promoting one aspect, or attacking what we disagree with or worse, banning individual expression. In an age where Equity, Diversion and Inclusion is sought after, we should be teaching at the most basic level our youth – and future of our society – how to understand and accept differences, not try to prohibit offensiveness.
This program is about helping our youth learn how to look past differences in others, find common ground, build relationships and work together for greater good. SAVE works best with dedicated school implementation, but can be used as a supplement to Restorative Practices or Equity/Diversion or as a stand-alone program to instruct on cooperation and understanding. An adaptation of the adult program, it is intended for youth who can completely express themselves and give others time to speak.
SAVE Schools – Student Anti-Violence Education, is built around the fundamental concept that understanding others and appreciating differences are key to our future, rather than promoting one aspect, or attacking what we disagree with or worse, banning individual expression. In an age where Equity, Diversion and Inclusion is sought after, we should be teaching at the most basic level our youth – and future of our society – how to understand and accept differences, not try to prohibit offensiveness.
This program is about helping our youth learn how to look past differences in others, find common ground, build relationships and work together for greater good. SAVE works best with dedicated school implementation, but can be used as a supplement to Restorative Practices or Equity/Diversion or as a stand-alone program to instruct on cooperation and understanding. An adaptation of the adult program, it is intended for youth who can completely express themselves and give others time to speak.
Beyond Barriers and ACAP Solutions partner for SAVE
There are more struggles than ever in the world of education, from COVID to racial tension, unfunded mandates and online school, yet the issue of school violence must not be minimized to accommodate other issues. Educators recognize the need to be more proactive about sharing information that may be affecting a student beyond their learning. Due to the effect of influences like bullying, parental issues, relationships, etc. on students, staff need to quickly and easily compile student information that is accessible, understandable, and actionable in providing assistance and intervention because “It is much easier to intervene when the concern is related to a student’s struggle to overcome personal setbacks, such as romantic breakup, than when there are concerns about threats posed to others.”
At Beyond Barriers we believe the solution to violence reduction comes through prevention of escalation and that understanding one another is the best method of prevention. We have formulated a training program for school staff that will assist them in guiding our youth to a greater understanding of each other and peaceful conflict resolution.
Beyond Barriers, in conjunction with ACAP SOLUTIONS, wants to bring a new model of “hall monitoring” to improve interactions in schools, by incorporating the “Beyond Barriers Relational Dialogue Principles”™ (based on our expertise in violence, extremism, and civil discourse) with the implementation capabilities of ACAP ASSIST. We call this program S.A.V.E. – Student Anti-Violence Education.
Educators have more pressures on their time than ever before. ACAP ASSIST was created to use a community system approach to gathering information about students. Many people interact with students regularly during both the school day and in after-school activities. Each may have access to different pieces of information about students; their learning patterns, developmental challenges, and events in their personal lives that may cause stress or trauma. ACAP ASSIST allows the entire community to share relevant information about students that is essential to improving the social, emotional, educational health and safety of each student and the school as a whole. It is a multi-disciplinary tool that allows school staff the ability to report and monitor concerning behaviors and conduct violations, while giving attention and recognition to positive behaviors. It makes everyone a part of supporting whole-child development in a simple, efficient, process.
Our strategy is to increase the identification of problems and focus on replacing misbehavior with rewarded behavior while using the “Beyond Barriers Relational Dialogue Principles”™ (civil discourse and conflict resolution) training to increase conversations focused on understanding rather than confrontation. This will reduce violence (bullying, fighting, weapon possession and use) while improving the school climate.
To accomplish this, we will engage the school staff, and through them the student body, in several activities. To create a better school environment we will develop the staff connection with the students. This comes from an increased understanding of what is going on in students’ lives through use of the ASSIST. Additionally, we expect the training on “Beyond Barriers Relational Dialogue Principles”™ to reduce bullying and fighting as staff help students understand each other and perhaps better understand others themselves. By continually sharing these principles of understanding and treating each other as valuable human beings, the school culture will develop as one which not only tolerates but supports differences.
Contact us to find out more or to request a consultation regarding our SAVE Program.