SAF educator talks about safe relationships in Sandy Creek classes

Oswego County Opportunities’ Services to Aid Families educator Sara Carmichael was a recent guest presenter in several classes at Sandy Creek’s Middle and High Schools.

Carmichael presented separate age-appropriate presentations for eighth, tenth and twelfth graders about safe relationships during a recent week at the school.

For eighth graders, Carmichael talked about components of a healthy relationship, and on her last day in the class, talked about relationships that feature an unhealthy balance of power and control.

She used several scenarios and asked the students to identify whether they represented an aggressive, passive or assertive position and students held up cards with their answer.

They also played several games that further emphasized the importance of healthy components in relationships such as communication, respect, balance of power in decision making, compromise, and independence.

Carmichael also talked about the difference between tattling and reporting; where tattling is telling to get someone in trouble, reporting is telling because someone could get hurt.

The students also watched a movie about unhealthy relationships and discussed the topic following.

With the older students, Carmichael discussed topics such as roles and responsibilities, dating, consent and myths surrounding sexual assault.

SAF staff members offer informational sessions on domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, dating violence as well as intervention services provided by the OCO SAF program.

For more information about these school-based educational programs, visit the OCO website at www.oco.org

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