About Safe and Caring Schools and Communities
Focusing on adult modeling, SACSC programs prevent negative social behaviour through character education, conflict management training and building respect for diversity. They promote a problem-solving approach to discipline that encourages positive social behaviour by expecting young people to fix the wrongs they have caused, thereby learning from their mistakes.
All Safe and Caring Schools and Communities (SACSC) programs focus on the following five topics:
- Living Respectfully
- Developing Self-Esteem
- Respecting Diversity and Preventing Prejudice
- Managing Anger and Dealing with Bullying and Harassment
- Resolving Conflicts Peacefully
The SACSC bullying and violence prevention programs promote consistency at home, at school and in the community. The Society uses a comprehensive approach that includes components for community members, youth program leaders, parents, teachers, school staff, community service representatives, children and youth. Each of the Society’s four program areas will effect change on their own, however for optimal effectiveness, all four program areas need to be implemented simultaneously in a community.
The Society recommends a phased-in approach that is outlined in its Model for Implementation. The initial phase can be initiated through community or school programming, depending where the greatest interest is. The community programs are designed to complement school programming, and school programs support the positive values that parents and other citizens in the community want to instil in children and youth. The Society for SACSC has no religious affiliations; the values promoted through SACSC character education such as respect, responsibility, inclusiveness, caring and compassion are acceptable among all cultural and religious groups.
The Society’s programs and resources are designed to promote positive social behaviour among children and youth by influencing all aspects of a child’s environment. Research indicates that integrating safe, caring and inclusive knowledge, skills and attitudes into a child’s upbringing is the most effective way to develop socially, emotionally and morally healthy children. If violence-prevention messages and behaviours are modelled and reinforced by all of the adults who have a relationship with the child, this young person’s ability to generalize positive social behaviour to real-life situations increases tremendously. This is why violence prevention programming is less effective when delivered by strangers.
This website provides free information to help teachers, school staff, parents, students, and members of the community to build safe, caring and inclusive schools and communities.
Vision
Mission
History
Goal
Object
Principles/Philosophy
Goals for Adults
Definition and Root Causes of Violence
The Four A's of Safe and Caring Schools
SACSC Mascot
SACSC Approach to Discipline
Board of Directors, Advisory Council and Organizational Chart
SACSC Staff
Contact Information
Awards and Achievements
Membership Information
The Society's Comittment to the Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement and the
the Ethical Fundraising And Financial Accountability Code
Click here to view our SACSC Overview Videos
Why Safe and Caring Schools and Communities Programming?
Vision
Schools and communities will be safe, caring and inclusive environments where each child will learn to be a respectful and responsible citizen.
What is a Safe and Caring School? Click here to download the Attributes of a Safe and Caring School brochure
Mission
The mission of the Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities (SACSC) is to encourage home, school and community practices that teach, model and reinforce socially responsible and respectful behaviours, so that living and learning can take place in a safe, caring and inclusive environment. Achieving this mission requires the involvement not only of parents, teachers, and children, but of all the important adults in children’s lives.
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History
The Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities (SACSC) evolved from the Alberta Teachers’ Association’s (ATA) Safe and Caring Schools Project (SACS) which began in April 1996 with a grant from the Alberta Education’s Safe and Caring Schools Initiative.
The ATA’s SACS Project began its program development with a review of bullying and violence prevention research and program evaluation literature and formed conclusions about what an effective school bullying and violence prevention program should include. This research indicated that a comprehensive approach would effectively address the bullying and prevent youth violence issues in schools, and close the gaps among existing violence prevention programming.
In 1999, new legislation was introduced in the School Act that requires all school districts to provide a safe and caring learning environment. Section 45 (8) of the School Act currently reads:
"A Board shall ensure that each student enrolled in a school operated by the board is provided with a safe and caring environment that fosters and maintains respectful and responsible behaviours." The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that School Boards encourage optimal learning by providing students with a safe and caring environment that enables them to succeed. Research has demonstrated that, for young people to do well in school, to learn to think critically and to apply new knowledge and skills, schools must remove sources of threat, fear and anxiety.
Under the Alberta Teachers’ Association the SACS Project developed into a comprehensive social development, bullying and violence prevention and character-education endeavour designed to encourage socially responsible and respectful behaviour. The ATA’s SACS Project worked closely with Alberta Education, other government departments that provide services to children and youth, and the Tri-University SACS Project. Other partners and financial supporters of the SACS Project included the Muttart Foundation, Lions Clubs of Alberta, the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Education Fund, the National Crime Prevention Strategy, Population Health, Canadian Heritage, VICOM Media Productions, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Creative Control Communications Inc., the Alberta Teachers’ Association and many school districts and community agencies. In April 2002 contributions to the ATA’s SACS Project had totalled well over two and one half million dollars, all of which was spent on program research, development, implementation and evaluation.
The ATA’s SACS Project collaborated with numerous community agencies and organizations that were represented on its Steering Committee. These organizations now participate in the Society’s governance and program development by remaining active members of the Society’s Board of Directors, Advisory Council and project steering committees. In 2003 a decision was made by the Steering Committee to apply for charitable status from Canada Customs and Revenue and to form the Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities. The formation of the new society has allowed for charitable status (which was granted in 2004) and provides an opportunity for the school and community stakeholders served by the Safe and Caring programs to participate in governance.
The Alberta Teachers’ Association continues to participate in the Society by providing representation on the Board of Directors, contributing office infrastructure support, providing a variety of in-kind contributions and participating as a valued partner on many of the Society’s projects and in its programs.
As a non-profit organization the Society for SACSC applies for grants and other government funding, accepts donations and depends on valued educational, community, individual and corporate supporters to fund its programs.
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Goal
The goal of the Society for SACSC is to encourage school practices that model and reinforce socially responsible and respectful behaviours, so that learning and teaching can take place in a safe and caring environment. Achieving this goal requires the involvement not only of parents and teachers, but of all the important adults in a child's life.
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Object
The object of the Society for SACSC shall be the advancement of practices, programs and policies in the school, the home and the community that contribute to a safe, caring and inclusive environment for learning and teaching, through
- involving all the important adults in a child’s life,
- supporting the growth and development of safe, caring and inclusive school culture where positive social character and citizenship are emphasized, respect and responsibility are strengthened, communication skills that promote healthy interactions are developed, bullying, harassment and assault are reduced and scholastic and personal success is achieved,
- integrating safe, caring and inclusive knowledge, skills and character into the school curriculum and into extracurricular and community-based activities,
- collaborating with other like-minded organizations and providing opportunities for networking and collaborative projects among partners committed to the principles of the society,
- supporting adult learning in schools and communities which develop practices that model, teach and reinforce socially responsible and respectful behaviours and promote positive relationships.
- providing opportunities for networking and collaboration among organizations and individuals committed to the principles of the society.
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Principles/Philosophy
The SACSC programs teach knowledge, skills and attitudes that are needed to build positive interpersonal and collaborative relationships and manage conflicts peacefully. The programs are based on the core concepts of respect and responsibility, and develop positive character in children and youth as well as an appreciation for diversity.. The Society, through its programs, strives to affect a child’s total environment. The programs are based on the following fundamental principles:
- Nonviolent values and behaviours must be taught and reinforced consistently by the important adults in a child’s life.
- Integrating and reinforcing safe, caring and inclusive concepts into the school curriculum, the home and the community teaches children to apply safe and caring values to all aspects of their lives.
- Interpersonal communication skills enhance positive relationships that contribute to collaborative problem solving and conflict resolution.
- Children and youth who feel safe and cared for are predisposed to learning.
- Children and youth need to take responsibility for their own behaviour.
- Adults influence children’s behaviour through modeling.
- Children and youth are the responsibility of all adults in the community.
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Goals for Adults
Children learn to behave appropriately by watching the positive behaviour of adults; therefore, the SACSC programs also target adults. The Society emphasizes the importance of adults doing the following:
- Modeling, supporting and reinforcing positive social behaviours at home, in school and in the community.
- Integrating safe, caring and inclusive values into the school curriculum and extracurricular and community activities.
- Teaching children and youth in a way that builds respect and responsibility, builds self-esteem, respects diversity, prevents prejudice, develops anger management, prevents and deals with bullying and develops an ability to solve problems and resolve conflict peacefully.
- Viewing incidents of misbehaviour as opportunities to teach social skills.
- Responding to instances of misconduct immediately, in a way that maintains the rights and dignity of all concerned while modeling appropriate behaviour.
- Empowering children and youth, through attitude and skill development, to take responsibility for their own behaviour.
- Giving children and youth the opportunity and necessary support to correct the harm they have caused for others through their own behaviour.
- Encouraging children and youth, through example, to show self-discipline and to care for others.
- Reinforcing mutual respect between adults and children and youth.
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Definition and Root Causes of Violence
Definition of Violence
SACSC defines violence as the actual or threatened use of physical, verbal, sexual or emotional power, intimidation or harassment by an individual or group which is harmful to the physical, psychological or social well-being of an individual or group.
Root Causes of Violence
Based on a study of the literature, SACSC believes that violent behavior is usually rooted in one or more of the following causes:
- An absence of healthy, human bonding and/or caring relationships
- Inconsistent societal attitudes to the tolerance of violence
- Lack of a personal value system based on respect and responsibility
- An inability to manage stress and conflict
- Abnormal neurological functioning
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The Four A's of Safe and Caring Schools and Communities
Adapted from the work of Larry Brendtro, Martin Brokenleg and Nicholas Long.
- Attachment: The creation of positive social bonds helps encourage prosocial behaviour .
- Achievement: Students should be encouraged to fulfill their academic potential by learning through both successes and failures.
- Autonomy: Teaching responsibility instead of demanding obedience helps students create and put into action their own ethical code.
- Altruism: Young people gain a sense of self-worth from helping others.
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The SACSC Mascot—Niska
The lifestyle of the Canada goose symbolizes SACSC values: Canada Geese live in a flock in order to support one another, and caring for young geese is the responsibility of all the adults in a flock. This is why a Canada Goose named "Niska" (the Cree word for goose) was chosen to be our mascot.
In addition to our Niska logo, SACSC has created an adult-sized Niska suit, which can be borrowed free of charge from our office. During the past 12 years, Niska has visited schools all across Alberta (to the delight of many students). Any school may borrow the suit for special events by making a reservation at least three weeks in advance. Schools are responsible for shipping charges and minor sanitary procedures, and are liable if the suit is lost or damaged. Contact SACSC for more details.
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