How Community Organizations Can Invest
in Youth

Every day you interact with pre-teens and teens in your community. Many of them are staying home alone for short periods of time, watching younger siblings while their parents run an errand, or perhaps even babysitting other children in the neighborhood. Do you ever wonder if the younger members of your community are prepared for the responsibilities of caring for themselves or younger children?

Safe Sitter, Inc., a national nonprofit organization, offers courses for students in grades 4-8, an age group where quality programs can be challenging to find. Students that complete Safe Sitter® programs know how to handle an emergency – whether it is at home, at school, or in the community. The courses are updated, interactive, and developmentally appropriate for students.

Safe@Home, a 90-minute program for students in grades 4-6, teaches students how to practice safe habits, how to prevent unsafe situations, and what to do when faced with dangers such as power failures or weather emergencies. Students are also introduced to the Safe Sitter® First Aid Chart and learn a system to help them assess and respond to injuries and illnesses.

Any adult that enjoys teaching preteens can facilitate the Safe@Home program; Safe Sitter® Instructor training is not required. The included Facilitator Guide includes a script to follow and planned questions to facilitate an engaging discussion.

Safe Sitter® Essentials is designed for students in grades 6-8 to prepare them to watch younger siblings and start babysitting. In each Safe Sitter® Essentials class, students learn:

• Safety Skills: Students learn how to prevent unsafe situations and what to do when faced with dangers such as power failures or weather emergencies.
• Child Care Skills: Students learn tips to manage behavior that will help them stay in control of themselves and the children in their care. Students also learn the ages and stages of child development, as well as practice diapering.
• First Aid & Rescue Skills: Learning skills such as choking rescue and CPR is often students’ favorite part of the class. Students also learn a system to help them assess and respond to injuries and illnesses. (CPR included in Safe Sitter® Essentials with CPR and Safe Sitter® Expanded.)
• Life & Business Skills: The ability to screen jobs, discuss fees, and greet employers will set students up for success now and in the future. Students practice these skills through various role plays.

To teach Safe Sitter® Essentials, qualified individuals need to complete a four-hour online Instructor training course. Safe Sitter® Instructors must either be a Registered Safe Sitter® Independent Instructor or affiliated with a Safe Sitter® Teaching Site or Safe Sitter® Teaching Center. To learn which option is best for your organization, visit Registered Provider Options.

As a Safe Sitter® Registered Provider, you determine your class schedule, fees, and manage student registrations. Students in each class have required class materials that are ordered through Safe Sitter® National Headquarters.

Offering programs by Safe Sitter® allows you to build safer communities, further your mission, and invest in the younger members of your community. Students will be equipped with the knowledge they need to stay safe, and parents will have confidence and peace of mind that their children are safe when they are away.