Choosing Healthy Activities and Methods Promoting Safety (CHAMPS)
C.H.A.M.P.S is an acronym that stands for Choosing Healthy Alternatives and Methods Promoting Safety.
C.H.A.M.P.S. is an educational program provided to Georgia’s youth, which will provide guidance, and the skills, ability and knowledge to be safe, healthy, and happy, in preparation for a successful life.
C.H.A.M.P.S is targeted toward fifth graders in elementary school. The Georgia Sheriff Association’s goal is to eventually extend this program into the middle grades and high schools. It is a twelve week program however, the program can be shortened or extended to meet our county’s needs. The class last about forty-five – sixty minutes, one day a week. C.H.A.M.P.S. lesson plans are taught by certified law enforcement officers from local sheriffs’ offices who have successfully completed C.H.A.M.P.S. instructor training. It is a 12 week program, designed for 5th graders, during which children are encouraged to avoid violence and drugs. The lessons give facts about how things like bullying and drugs affect people, and also explain that all choices have consequences, such as violence and/or jail time. There is also a lesson on Internet Safety, designed to make children realize that although a computer can be beneficial, there are dangers on the internet they should be careful of. So far the feedback on this program has been very positive, and our hope is that this program will offer our children knowledge, and the tools to deal with many of the life altering situations they will encounter.
