The A-OK Program*
Awareness is one of the best defenses against terrorism and espionage. The Bureau of Diplomatic Security places a high priority on efforts to raise the level of security awareness among the Foreign Service and Americans living and visiting overseas. The A-OK Program, Alert Overseas Kids, provides security and safety information to American children living overseas. The program was designed in 1986 for the children of people working abroad at
? teach children safety and security strategies and techniques that really work;
? build children's confidence and self-reliance so they can act correctly in an emergency; and
? equip children with the knowledge and skills they need in order to recognize, avoid, and where necessary, report safety and security threats.
Security and safety awareness is taught regularly in
A-OK materials are provided to a mission's or post's A-OK program coordinator who tailors the program to the local environment as well as to meet the particular needs of different age groups. A-OK materials cover such topics as:
? Home alone safety
? After-school and emergency safety
? Bicycle and street safety
? Fire safety
? Messages in the media
? Drugs, inhalants, smoking, tobacco
? Sexual and child physical abuse
An annual worldwide contest encourages overseas American children to create their own safety and security messages. For more information on the A-OK Program, email us: DSPublicAffairs@state.gov
or write:
DS Public Affairs
Bureau of Diplomatic Security
*The A-OK logo was designed by John Kim, who at the time was an 11-year-old American living in
