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GuardingKids is a Community Outreach Prevention Program that uses the Monique Burr Foundation Child Safety Matters curriculum which is a comprehensive, evidence-based prevention education program that presents lessons in a fun, engaging, and age appropriate way. The program is offered in Florida’s 19th Judicial Circuit which includes St. Lucie, Indian River, Martin and Okeechobee counties.
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Guarding, Uniting, and Advocating for Resiliency and Dignity
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Program Featues and Benefits:
- • Evidence based
- • Easy and practical for schools to implement
- • Developmentally appropriate for students in grades kindergarten through five
- • Based on polyvictimization research
- • Provides universal strategies to better protect children, including five easy-to-remember Safety Rules
- • Educates children, school staff, and parents
- • Provides practice and reinforcement of learned skills
- • Created, reviewed, and supported by experts
- • Trusted by parents and schools
The framework for Darkness to Light’s educational model is the 5 Steps to Protecting Children. The prevention trainings, community advocacy, and communications strategy is based upon the principles taught in these steps.
Program Topics:
Lesson 1
- • Safety awareness
- • Shared responsibility for safety
- • Safe Adults
- • Types of abuse
- • Red Flags
- • Safety Rules
Lesson 2
- • Bullying
- • Cyberbullying
- • Digital abuse
- • Digital safety tips
- • Digital citizenship
- • Safety Rules
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Kristy Conway
Community Outreach Coordinator
Ms. Conway has been a resident of Saint Lucie County for the last 30 years. She has a master’s degree in family studies. Ms. Conway has spent many years on the Treasure Coast advocating for children and families. As a former child of the foster care system, Ms. Conway’s passion is to represent and improve the lives of disadvantaged youth.