B.E. S.M.A.R.T. © Program
B.E. S.M.A.R.T. is Prevent Child Abuse Delaware’s age-appropriate, school-based prevention program designed to help children build the skills they need to feel safe, confident, and supported—at school, at home, and in their communities.
Through engaging lessons and trusted relationships, students learn how to recognize feelings, set boundaries, identify safe adults, and ask for help when something doesn’t feel right. The program grows with students, introducing concepts gradually and thoughtfully as they develop.
B.E. S.M.A.R.T. is offered to students in Pre-K through 8th grade and is delivered by trained PCAD’s Prevention Education Specialists during the school day.
Our Approach
Lessons are interactive, developmentally appropriate, and grounded in a strengths-based approach. We focus on empowering children—not frightening them—by giving them language, tools, and trusted support systems.
For our youngest learners, we use PA Bear, a friendly and familiar teaching tool that helps introduce important safety concepts in a way that feels approachable, engaging, and non-threatening.
As students grow, lessons build on prior learning, helping them apply safety skills to real-world situations, including online and community settings.
Children also receive an activity book that reinforces the concepts taught during the program. Each book includes family follow-up activities to help caregivers continue these important conversations at home. A complementary guide for parents is availabel by clicking here.
B.E. S.M.A.R.T. stands for:
Be Aware
Express Feelings
Stay Safe
Make Good Choices
Always Check First
Rely On Your Gut
Talk and Tell
What Students Learn — By Grade Level:
PA Bear Program
One 30-minute session per classroom
At this age, the focus is on building emotional awareness and understanding personal safety in simple, concrete ways. Students learn to:
- Recognize and talk about different feelings
- Understand the difference between "public" and private places
- Learn that everyone has four private body areas
- Identify the difference between good, bad, and secret touches
- Learn and practice the three safety rules
- Begin identifying safe adults they can go to for help
Two 45-minute sessions per classroom
Building on earlier lessons, students deepen their understanding of safety and trusted relationships. They learn to:
- Tell the difference between secrets and surprises
- Understand when to “check first” with a trusted adult
- Identify characteristics of a safe person
- Recognize safe people both inside and outside the home
- Name and trust their internal “uh-oh” feeling
Two 45-minute sessions per classroom
As students become more independent, lessons expand to help them recognize unsafe situations and know how to respond. Students learn to:
- Identify the four types of child abuse (introduced gently and age-appropriately)
- Learn what to do in potentially dangerous situations at home, online, or in the community
- Recognize and respond when they experience the “uh-oh” feeling
- Identify behaviors that signal whether a person is safe
Two 45-minute sessions per classroom
At this stage, students focus more intentionally on boundaries and personal rights. They learn to:
- Define personal boundaries
- Recognize when boundaries are being crossed
- Understand what to do and who to tell if boundaries are violated
One 45-minute session per classroom
Older students apply what they’ve learned to more complex, real-life scenarios. Lessons focus on:
- Applying safety skills and decision-making strategies in dangerous or uncomfortable situations
- Reinforcing help-seeking behaviors and trusted support systems
More information coming soon.
Our B.E. S.M.A.R.T. Partners
- Appoquinimink EEC
- Brick Mill EEC
- Bunker Hill Elementary
- Cedar Lane EEC
- Crystal Run Elementary
- Olive B Loss
- Silver Lake Elementary
- Spring Meadow ECC
- Townsend ECC
- Talley Middle School
- S. duPont Middle School
- Springer Middle School
- Beacon Middle
- Love Creek Elementary
- Lewes Elementary
- Milton Elementary
- Booker T. Washington Elementary
- Central Elementary
- East Dover Early Childhood Center
- Fairview Early Childhood Center
- Hartly Elementary
- North Dover Elementary
- Towne Point Elementary
- Eisenburg
- New Castle Elementary
- Pleasantville Elementary
- Wilmington Manor Elementary
- Wilbur Elementary
- Georgetown Elementary School
- North Georgetown Elementary School
- Lake Forest North
- Dickenson MVP
- Forest Oak Elementary
- Meadowood Program
- Mote Elementary
- Richardson Park Elementary
- HB duPont (half)
- Skyline Middle
- First State Montessori Academy
- Odyssey Charter School
- Anthony of Padua
Bring B.E. S.M.A.R.T. to Your School,
Camp, or Faith-Based Organization
B.E. S.M.A.R.T. is designed to support schools, educators, and families by reinforcing consistent, age-appropriate safety messaging in a trusted environment.
If you are interested in bringing B.E. S.M.A.R.T. to your school or district, we’d love to connect. Please complete the form below and someone from our team will be in touch soon.