Endorsements
I have recently had occasion to review some of ASAP's educational materials designed to train and sensitize Camp personnel to issues of paramount importance to the physical, emotional and psychological well being of our children.
I was immensely pleased to find the material presented tastefully and sensitively, and above all, in a straightforward and accessible fashion.
The urgency for agencies, programs and institutions catering to Jewish children to take advantage of this program cannot be overstated.
With their materials, ASAP has made an enormous contribution to Klal Yisroel's healthy future, and we should be deeply appreciative for their respectful and delicate handling of this crucially important topic.
I was immensely pleased to find the material presented tastefully and sensitively, and above all, in a straightforward and accessible fashion.
The urgency for agencies, programs and institutions catering to Jewish children to take advantage of this program cannot be overstated.
With their materials, ASAP has made an enormous contribution to Klal Yisroel's healthy future, and we should be deeply appreciative for their respectful and delicate handling of this crucially important topic.
Rabbi Michel Twerski
Congregation Beth Jehudah
I strongly endorse the ASAP Counselor Training Program and encourage Camp Directors to take advantage of this excellent resource. The videos are clinically sound, user-friendly, and give camp counselors practical advice about setting boundaries, preventing abuse, looking for warning signs of previous abuse, empathetic listening and other critical skills that counselors need to keep their campers safe. This promotes transparency; meaning that all members of the camp “family” — including the parents of the campers — can all know exactly what boundaries and protocols were taught. These videos also provide parents with the tools to have informed safety talks with their kids before sending them off to camp, giving them messages that will be reinforced by the camp administration.
Yakov Horowitz
Director, The Center for Jewish Family Life/Project YES
The ASAP Counselor Training program is a practical and highly effective resource for training camp counselors in the basics of abuse prevention and response. The beautifully produced videos effectively convey the key points that counselors must be aware of in understanding the potential negative impacts of abusive behavior as well as clear standards of appropriate behavior in interacting with their campers. I particularly commend the training program authors for including the quiz at the end of the program that serves the dual purpose of reinforcing the learning and insuring that the counselor absorbed the important material in a manner that, in turn, can help camp administrators hold counselors accountable for any violations of the standards recommended by the program. The ASAP counselor training program reflects the highest standards of abuse education and prevention. I strongly recommend it.
David Pelcovitz, Ph.D.
Psychologist
As parents sending our children to summer camp, we want to ensure that our children have a fun and enjoyable summer. But, most importantly, we want to know and be assured that our children are safe. It is consequently imperative that those that are entrusted to care for our children be trained and capable of safeguarding them. Training and education, in conjunction with camp policy, assist staff in maintaining safe boundaries for both them and their charges. It also aids staff in identifying and preventing any harm that may be befalling a child in the camp. To assist camps in achieving these objectives ASAP has developed a wonderful program designed to train staff members and camp employees in appropriate methods of tackling and confronting these issues. The easy to follow program, including reading material, well made short videos and testing material, are invaluable to demonstrate understanding and comprehension of the manner in which your children are engaged with. I fully endorse this summer safety program and urge all camps to adopt this abuse and education program
Benny Forer
Deputy District Attorney
I congratulate the ASAP organization for this most important life saving work, Sadly, vast numbers of children are hurt through abusive relationships with care givers or even other children that have a source of power over them.The harmful consequences of such abuse is mostly carried into adulthood and in most cases causes emotional,physical and spiritual suffering and harm throughout life. As in physical illness, the best cure is prevention- protecting our children from molestation and abuse. Such protection is achieved and can be achieved through the knowledge and education of healthy boundaries and relationships. I believe this tool that teaches boundaries and touches upon the do’s and don’ts of helping a child that has disclosed abuse can make a world of difference and prevent many tzarot and even determine a much better outcome in cases where children had been hurt already. Kol hakavod for this long due work in saving our community.
Edna Ludmir, MSW
Director of the Benafshenu Center for the treatment of trauma victims, Bait Cham Org
The ASAP Counselor Training program is a practical and highly effective resource for training camp counselors in the basics of abuse prevention and response. The beautifully produced videos effectively convey the key points that counselors must be aware of in understanding the potential negative impacts of abusive behavior as well as clear standards of appropriate behavior in interacting with their campers. I particularly commend the training program authors for including the quiz at the end of the program that serves the dual purpose of reinforcing the learning and insuring that the counselor absorbed the important material in a manner that, in turn, can help camp administrators hold counselors accountable for any violations of the standards recommended by the program. The ASAP counselor training program reflects the highest standards of abuse education and prevention. I strongly recommend it.
ASAP’s Summer Safety Counselor Training is a much needed, user-friendly, educational tool for camps. Without jargon or unnecessary euphemisms, and with clear but non-threatening short animated videos it provides important basic safety instruction for camp counselors on personal boundaries and touch, bullying, and the important role and responsibility of a counselor and mentor. The on-line test at the conclusion is a sound way to measure competence and mastery of the material. This program is an excellent tool for camp directors, as part of an overall staff training, safety and supervision program.
Norman Blumenthal & David Mandel
OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services
Child abuse and molestation are ugly facts of life that we must contend with – we can no longer afford to ignore this threat. We must become proactive and prevent to the best of our abilities additional occurrences of abuse and molestation. To this end, our Torah leaders are in the process of taking some bold steps.
One area that requires immediate attention is our children’s summer camp experience. Unfortunately, abuse and molestation sometimes occur at summer camp. In this relaxed environment, when children are far away from their parents’ supervision, it is crucial to do everything in our power to prevent abuse and molestation, and ensure our children’s safety.
I urge camp directors to adopt this program which I am personally supervising, and require camp counselors to watch the videos and take the quizzes. This year, due to the short timeframe in which the program was developed, it will be necessary to watch the videos and take the quizzes over the internet. If your counselors do not have access to filtered internet, we will make arrangements for appropriate internet sites to be made available.
This is the minimum hishtadlus we can do for the sake of our children’s safety. B”H we will be blessed with a safe and happy summer.
Harav Elya Brudny
Rosh Yeshiva, Mir Yeshiva of Brooklyn
Child molestation and abuse have reached epidemic proportions and it is imperative that camp staff be trained to prevent and recognize situations of abuse. This counselor training opens up the topic with staff members and provides them with the opportunity to discuss and learn how to react to situations that could certainly arise in the camp atmosphere. This program is an excellent tool to prevent abuse and molestation. One area that requires immediate attention is our children’s summer camp experience.
Debbie Gross
Tahel – Crisis Center for Religious Women and Children
