Green Bear program restarts with state funds

A program designed to prevent and address child sexual abuse will be back in operation now that funding has been restored.

The Green Bear program, offered through the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence, was abruptly discontinued in January when the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services denied NASV's request for funding.

SEMO-NASV executive director Tammy Gwaltney said no reason was given for the denial but the organization was invited to reapply and have a chance to qualify for unspent dollars from initial applications.

"Areas that had not receiving money in the first round were eligible to apply" for the additional funds, Gwaltney said.

SEMO-NASV qualified for and received an additional $14,000 from those unused funds in addition to the $39,000 requested to run the Green Bear program for a year.

The program teaches children how to avoid sexual abuse and what to do if they have been victimized. It also offers teachers, parents, counselors, police and other adults information on handling a report of child sexual abuse. Age-appropriate programs have been offered in classrooms in 50 schools from pre-K through high school in nine Southeast Missouri counties, said SEMO-NASV executive director Tammy Gwaltney. About 10,000 children each year are visited at the schools.

Counselors work with a large, green, fuzzy bear puppet -- called Green Bear -- to help younger children assimilate information in ways they can understand, she said. The puppet is an effective teaching tool, delivering safety messages in a positive, interactive manner that children remember for years to come.

While the puppet's presence in the program diminishes and the issues the program addresses change as children get older, it is still called the Green Bear program.

For the past five years much of the program has been underwritten by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The grant is administered in Missouri through the Department of Health and Senior Services. The interactive program receives supplemental funding on a much smaller scale through money obtained from SEMO-NASV fund-raisers and charitable donations, Gwaltney said.

"We are very happy to know the program is up and functioning and that we'll be adding some components," Gwaltney said of the total $53,022 received from the Department of Health and Senior Services.

In addition to supporting the Green Bear program, funds will be used to train faith-based organizations and adult community members how to recognize child sexual abuse and what action to take if they get a report of abuse.

Gwaltney said part of the decision to expand in that direction was due to interest from churches over the years asking for that help.

The Green Bear program will kick into full gear when school begins next fall, she said. "I appreciate the department opening up those moneys," Gwaltney said.

For more information about SEMO-NASV programs, the Green Bear program, or to make a donation, visit the Web site at www.semonasv.org.

carel@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127