HARDWICK – AWARE recently received a $5,000 grant from the Northeast Kingdom Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation. The funding will support the Healthy Relationships Project, advancing AWARE’s mission to prevent and heal the trauma of domestic and sexual violence in the greater Hardwick area by promoting safety, respect, empathy and personal responsibility.
The Healthy Relationships Project is a comprehensive, evidence-based program for children in Pre-K through eigth grade. Bryant identified the need through her work with youth and schools, noting a gap in age-appropriate, research-based education on healthy relationships and body safety. After researching effective programs and consulting with community partners, AWARE selected the Healthy Relationships Project as a developmentally appropriate model that aligns with its mission.
The curricula have been shown to increase children’s knowledge of personal body safety, help them identify trusted adults and reduce vulnerability to sexual abuse. Evaluations demonstrate growth in children’s understanding of boundaries, communication skills and confidence in seeking help. Caregiver and educator training further reinforce these lessons, creating safer environments at home and at school. This multi-level approach is especially effective in rural areas where access to ongoing support services may be limited.
According to Prevent Child Abuse Vermont, these programs have been used in Vermont schools since the early 1990s. Data from the Department for Children and Families shows a steady decrease in substantiated cases of child sexual abuse and a reduction in child-to-child sexual harm, evidence of the program’s long-term impact.
For more information on the project email [email protected]. If assistance is needed, contact AWARE at (802) 472-6463 or [email protected] and visit the website at awarevt.org.
Miranda Elkins is the executive director at AWARE Inc.
