Project SAFE, a mandatory classroom curriculum currently offered to 5th through 12th graders at five community middle and high schools, reaches roughly 3,000 students each week. The program follows a one of its kind, 900-page curriculum designed exclusively by and for SAFE.

Specially trained licensed teachers are hired, trained and supervised by SAFE so they are knowledgeable in these life skills area. Each SAFE teacher builds a relationship with the students to help them navigate through life's most difficult issues. and challenges.

The program addresses the problems of youth alcohol, drug, gambling and tobacco use and how it can directly lead to addictions. Project SAFE's curriculum focuses each classroom hour on promoting self esteem and healthy living to our youth. Classes center on topics including: family structure and relationships, peer pressure, anger management, coping skills, stress, bullying, competition, body image and values clarification.

Project SAFE gives each student the opportunity to grow and develop the personal, social and social resistance skills to better manage everyday interpersonal relationships, conflicts, pressure and developmental issues to ultimately avoid crisis situations.

Some parents and students alike may find the discussions of feelings, communication, stress management and words like weight-ism unique to the classroom setting but its just that thinking that makes Project SAFE elemental to the future health and wellbeing of our youth.

The size and scope of the problem in any specific community or group is not easily measured, but its been well documented that the adolescent years are critical for developing tools to prevent addictive behavior in adult life.By teaching our youth between the developmental ages of 10 and 18 we are equipping them to better identify the risks and deal with the temptations of peer and/ or media and life's pressures.

Children in Jewish Day schools spend in excess of 40 hours a week in school. For roughly 10 months each year school is their home away from home and our partner schools have taken that responsibility to heart.

Project SAFE is given prime time slots in daily schedules, it is a graded class that is observed and monitored for class size, attendance and behavioral problems like any other. Project SAFE is a collaborative effort between our school administrations, our parents and SAFEs directors and teachers. With education, direction and compassion we can, and will, keep our kids SAFE!