Through programs like Coaching Boys into Men (CBiM) and FRIES consent education, we empower youth with essential skills and knowledge to promote respect and prevent abuse.

Adrian Croke, CSN Director of Education and Outreach

CSN’s prevention programs are focused on middle and high school students in our community just as they are starting to explore more mature romantic relationships. Introducing the indicators of healthy relationships, and creating transparent and supportive conversations with teens can reduce the chances that they experience or contribute to violence in their future relationships. CSN gives our local students the tools for safer, happier connections.

Peer Advocacy Program and Scholarship

The Peer Advocate program, a longstanding collaboration between the Teton County School District and Community Safety Network, has been active for over a decade. Meetings occur approximately once a week at Jackson Hole High School. The club comprises students of all ages from Jackson Hole High School who are committed to enhancing community safety. Our primary focus lies in raising awareness about healthy, unhealthy, and abusive relationships, as well as consent. We conduct awareness campaigns and educational events within the school community. Additionally, we strive to reassure survivors within the school that there are individuals dedicated to creating a better world and that they are not alone. We firmly believe in and support survivors.

Each year, CSN selects one student to receive the Peer Advocate Scholarship, a financial award towards college tuition in partnership with the Fund for Public Education. This year, the winning student will receive $2000 and be honored for going above and beyond in their support and advocacy among peers of CSN’s mission.

Coaching Boys into Men (CBiM)

Leveraging Coach Relationships In Lessons About Consent

Coaching Boys into Men (CBiM) is a national violence prevention program that connects athletic teams with advocates like CSN. Through partnerships with the Teton County School District and Jackson Hole Youth Soccer, we brought CBiM to Jackson, emphasizing coaches’ influential role in shaping young athletes’ lives. CBiM involves approximately 12 short conversations delivered by coaches on essential topics such as digital boundaries, bullying, mental health, and respect for women and girls. 

CSN is launching its third year of CBiM with the U14 soccer team this month. Given athletes’ common role as leaders among their peers, this program serves as a preventive measure by instructing young male athletes in crucial relationship skills and mental health strategies related to violence and abuse.

FRIES and Consent Education: Empowering Youth

At CSN, we believe in educating youth about consent through innovative learning tools like FRIES. FRIES, an acronym developed by Planned Parenthood, teaches the importance of consent in a straightforward and engaging manner. 

FRIES sums up the parameters of consent as follows: 

• Freely given
  
• Reversible
  
• Informed
  
• Enthusiastic
  
• Specific, Sober

We integrate FRIES into our middle school Dating 101 Club and 8th and 9th-grade health classes, emphasizing healthy relationships and respectful behavior. Teaching young people about consent in relationships is crucial to promoting awareness about what violence and abuse look like, preventing harm, and fostering healthy relationship dynamics. It empowers young individuals to understand and assert personal boundaries.

Creating a Violence-Free Future for Our Youth

Through programs like Coaching Boys into Men (CBiM) and FRIES consent education, CSN empowers local students with the essential skills and knowledge to promote respect and prevent abuse. Your support ensures that these critical programs continue to create a safer, violence-free future for our students and our community. Together, we can build a community where healthy relationships and consent are the norm!