Stratford Avenue and Stewart Schools recently invited Child Abuse Prevention Services (CAPS), to present its popular elementary school bully prevention program, Steer Clear of Bullies, to its 3rd and 4th graders. CAPS is Long Island’s leading organization dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect, and provides violence prevention and child safety programs to Nassau and Suffolk schools at no cost.

“Statistics suggest that between 35,000 and 55,000 children on Long Island spend each school day in fear of bullies. Those are devastating numbers,” said Alane Fagin, Executive Director of CAPS. “The schools deserves credit for being proactive and offering Steer Clear of Bullies bully prevention strategies to their students.”

Professionally-trained CAPS volunteers facilitated the Steer Clear of Bullies multimedia program in the students’ classroom the week of February 1st.. The two-session workshop was developed for 3rd and 4th graders to promote empathy, social skills building and assertiveness skills.

Thanks in part to Costco Wholesale, Newsday Charities, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the NY Tri-State area, as well as concerned community members, CAPS can provide Steer Clear of Bullies to Long Island public and private elementary schools at no cost. To date, over 600,000 Long Island students have participated in CAPS programs.

“The demand for our student programs increases every year, and so we encourage community members who are concerned about our children’s safety to call us if they have an interest in becoming a CAPS volunteer presenter,” said Ms. Fagin.