History of Living Safely: A Protective Behaviors Process

What Is Living Safely?

Are You Ready For an Evolution?

Current Training Opportunities

Contact Information

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History

Living Safely: A Protective Behaviors Process rose from the work of Peg Flandreau West, a therapist and school social worker in Madison, Wisconsin.  She was inspired to develop a personal safety program after talking with a classroom of children.  She created Protective Behaviors in 1979, the program on which Living Safely is based. Peg was dedicated to Protective Behaviors and did a lot to develop the program before her death in 1991. In 1997, Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin became the administrative home for Protective Behaviors.  We have now undertaken the task of establishing Living Safely: A Protective Behaviors Process as an evidence-based program.

The Protective Behaviors process itself is a common sense approach, which was why it is currently taught in many countries throughout the world.  However, with increased attention on evidence-based models, Living Safely takes the heart of Protective Behaviors to a new level.  Living Safely is based on cutting edge research while still preserving the essence and spirit of Protective Behaviors.

A 1985 Wisconsin state law (WI Statute 115.367) requires public school districts to teach elementary students to recognize, avoid, prevent and halt physically or psychologically intrusive or abusive situations including child abuse, sexual abuse and child enticement.  Living Safely:  A Protective Behaviors Process will continute to meet this statutory requirement as Protective Behaviors has.

What Is Living Safely?
Everyone feels unsafe at times.  But safe and unsafe mean different things to different people.  Peg Flandreau West first realized this when she talked to elementary school children.  That insight was revolutionary for her.  She learned from the children that her own body too could tell her when she felt safe or not.  By listening to what her own body told her, she was better able to help others to learn how feel safe.

While adults have primary responsibility for protecting children, Living Safely is not just about adults telling children what they should do to keep safe.  Living Safely gives adults tools to coach children.  Both adults and children practice ways to make decisions and take action to keep themselves safe.

Living Safely concepts and strategies apply to all people.  These tools can be used to promote anti-victimization and enhance empowerment for all people, including children. Although children cannot control the actions of others in their lives, they can often influence the outcome of uncomfortable, frightening or potentially dangerous situations by their response to those situations. Children can use the Living Safely process to enhance their own safety and well-being as they face life’s challenges.

The ideas of Living Safely apply to bullying, racism, sexism, conflict resolution, and abuse of all kinds.

Living Safely is a process that is based on two simple themes.

Theme One: We all have the right to feel safe all the time and others have the right to feel safe with us.

Theme Two: We can talk with someone (we trust) about anything, no matter how awful or small.

Living Safely helps us to:

·         Understand what safety feels like

·         Recognize the body signs that tell us when we are not feeling safe

·         Understand the difference between safe, adventurous, and unsafe situations

·         Identify a network of people we can talk to about what we are feeling or experiencing

A number of curricula are available to assist people who work with children as they incorporate Living Safely concepts. These materials are appropriate for children in kindergarten through high school, as well as children or adults with special needs. In addition we have a video that describes core principles and materials that parents can use to teach their children. You can find information about these items by clicking on “Resources” on the sidebar at the left of this column.

Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin offers training to enable people to coach the ongoing Living Safely process to children or adults. We are developing a network for professional development and support for people who are using Protective Behaviors or transitioning to Living Safely, with the goal of helping all of us learn from one another about ways that Protective Behaviors is being used.

For more information about Living Safely, materials, or training please call 1-800-CHILDREN or email pcaw@cssw.org.

Are You Ready For an Evolution?

Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin is gathering information about where classic Protective Behaviors is being used, both inside and outside the state of Wisconsin. Perhaps you received formal training in Protective Behaviors.  Or you may be using one of the curriculms. 

We will use the information you give us to notify you of upcoming changes to the program and training opportunities.  If you are using Protective Behaviors or know somebody who is, please let us know so we can learn more about your work and how we can support you.  You can download a brief information form (pdf) and email it to us at pcaw@cssw.org or fax it to us at (608) 256.3378.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Living Safely Trainings

Living Safely: A Protective Behaviors Process is an evidence-based program rooted in the renowned and widely used Protective Behaviors program.  Living Safely meets the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction requirements of Wisconsin State Law 115.368, which requires training for teachers on how to help children develop protective skills.

Living Safely workshops provide the essential information to coach children and adults to practice ways to keep themselves safe. Presently, the following workshops are scheduled for 2006:

Schedule of Workshops for 2006