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Team SAFE-T was founded in 2001 in response to the terrorist attacks
of September 11, 2001 by a group of concerned citizens who joined
forces to increase emergency preparedness education in our schools.
First Lady Maria Shriver supports Team SAFE-T, which is being
hailed as a key education component of the Be Smart. Be Responsible.
Be Prepared. Be Ready! campaign. Our annualized school-based curriculum
will teach age-appropriate emergency information and preparedness
skills for students in grades K-12.
Team SAFE-T, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Jack O’Connell, California State Department of Education,
American Red Cross and curriculum specialists have developed age-appropriate
educational materials approved for use in all California schools.
Team SAFE-T materials include lesson plans, discussion topics,
activity worksheets and take-home assignments. Each grade-specific
set of materials includes five 45-minute lessons to be taught
over five days during the statewide School Safety Month. Additionally,
families will be invited to participate in take-home activities
and attend an assembly where Emergency Responders will address
how to create a family emergency plan and improve preparedness
skills.
California has mandated that schools statewide teach children skills
necessary to help themselves and those around them when earthquakes
and fires strike and Northern California schools equip students
with skills for winter weather preparedness. Team SAFE-T materials
meet mandates and help schools comply.
Beginning in October 2005 (Team SAFE-T week is October 3 –
7), Team SAFE-T will launch the first annual weeklong curriculum
for California public school students, which will take place during
School Safety Month. In the first year of the program, all 9,000
California public schools will have access to the Web-based educational
materials developed by Team SAFE-T at no cost. These materials
will be accessible and downloadable off this website.
A special pilot program will be offered to more than 30,000 students
in five select schools [3 elementary / 1 middle / 1 high school]
in each of the six California school districts identified as pilot
sites from across the state. Activities in these schools will
be evaluated by the UCLA Center for Public Health and Disasters
in an effort to make improvements to the program for implementation
in future years.
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