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Youth Empowerment Services Makes a Difference

verde valley news – The Community-Based Advocacy Department of Verde Valley Sanctuary (VVS) is home to Youth Empowerment Services (YES), one of Arizona’s longest-running violence prevention programs. YES specialists provide violence prevention and healthy relationship education to elementary, middle, and high school students throughout the school year throughout Sedona and the Verde Valley.

The YES program equips students with skills to resist violence and abuse and empowers them to make positive choices. YES specialists Amanda Majewski and Evelia Mulleneaux completely revamped the presentation this summer based on feedback from schools. They collectively provided classroom training at her eight schools in Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Cornville, Sedona and Rimrock for the 2022/2023 school year. Teacher evaluations receive positive feedback on the curriculum and presentation, as well as some suggestions for increasing student participation. YES specialist girlfriend Evelia Mulleneaux said:

ES School Room (Amanda Majewski and Evelia Mulenow from left)
ES School Room (Amanda Majewski and Evelia Mulenow from left)

The YES program curriculum includes:

  • Self-Awareness, Bullying, Peer Pressure, Empowerment (K-10th)
  • Kindness and Consideration (K)
  • feelings (K)
  • Healthy vs. Unhealthy Friendships (K-5th)
  • Gratitude and self-respect (K – 5th)
  • Empathy and Compassion (1st to 8th)
  • Stress and Relaxation (Days 1-8)
  • Appreciation and Body Image (6th to 8th)
  • Healthy vs Unhealthy Relationships (6 – 8)

On average, each classroom offers 5 courses per grade. Our students are highly motivated and engaged in presentations, games, activities and conversations. The presenter encourages young people’s opinions. It’s a truly participatory experience. During the 2022/2023 school year, the YES Specialist delivered her 125 presentations to her 908 students in grades K through her 10th grade. “We’re in school almost every day of the school year,” says Amanda Majewski, her YES specialist.

Vivien Mann, Director of Community-Based Advocacy, said: We hope that all schools in Sedona and Verde Valley will join her YES program. Our goal is to provide an education that equips children with the coping skills to build and maintain healthy relationships. “

sedona gift shop

YES specialists help produce the annual Verde Valley Teen Maze and provide information about VVS and the YES program at National Night Out, Take Back the Night, and other family-friendly community events. The Teen Maze is a community-driven event for 8th graders to experience the consequences of their life choices and prepare them for the challenges they may face in high school. Teen Maze and its designs “bring to life” the potential impact of various life choices. This week-long event of his is coordinated and sponsored by Yavapai County Community Health Services (YCCHS) and VVS.

During the summer, YES specialists provide children staying in emergency shelters with a number of community adventures, including trips to the river to collect rocks, paint and decorate their shelters. increase. movies; the library; and Jerome’s history tour.

For more information on the YES program, please contact Vivien Mann, Community Based Advocacy Director at (928) 641-6916 or vivien@verdevalleysanctuary.org.

To learn more about VVS or to donate, contact Community Development Director Tracey McConnell at (928) 282-2755, tracey@verdevalleysanctuary.org, or visit the website. https://verdevalleysanctuary.org.

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