The N.O.V.A. Principles Foundation
Our Mission
The mission of NOVA. Principles is: “Nurturing youth to seek out positive Opportunities, internalize good Values, and to accept Accountability for their choices in life.”
N.O.V.A. Principles is a program taught by uniformed law enforcement officers who encourage positive development & growth.
The N.O.V.A. Principles Foundation provides encouragement for youth Recognize and seek out positive opportunities.
Values are fundamental principles, ideals, and standards that deeply influence a person’s beliefs, actions, and way of life.
Our program helps youth to internalize good Values, and to accept responsibility for their life choices and actions.
Core NOVA Principles
5 Core Principles
- Accountability: I own my thoughts, feelings, choices, and actions.
- Positivity: When I choose Positivity, I experience success and happiness.
- Knowledge: Knowledge creates opportunities.
- Work: The path to excellence requires work.
- Respect: I respect myself, others, and everything around me.
10 NOVA Applications
- The NOVA Lone Wolf Application: I courageously stand against those who want me to do wrong.
- The STS Application: Study the Situation.
- The Cause and Effect Application: When I do or do not do something, something happens.
- The Paradigm Application: How I see things.
- The True Colors Application: What is right is right and what is wrong is wrong.
- The Lifetime Decisions Application: Good decisions I make now and forever.
- The Which Wolf Am I Feeding Application: Which wolf is stronger? The one I feed.
- The Fire Application: Some say fire is good, others say it is bad, in reality fire is powerful.
- The Harvest Application: What I put in is what I get out.
- The Initiative Application: I proactively look for what needs to be done and do it
Our History
The NOVA Principles program was created in March of 2003, by officers from the Orem Police Department in Utah. In April of 2004, N.O.V.A. Principles LC, was created to allow the NOVA program to be implemented beyond the confines of the City of Orem. NOVA quickly expanded to other locations outside of the City of Orem. In January 2016, N.O.V.A. Principles LC, became the N.O.V.A. Principles Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Public Charity. It is more commonly known as NOVA Principles.
Nurturing
The NOVA Principles Foundation is dedicated to creating a nurturing and supportive environment in the classroom, where police officers serve as instructors for the NOVA curriculum. The officers create a space where students feel safe to express themselves, ask questions, and engage in meaningful conversations about the challenges they face.
In this nurturing environment, the NOVA curriculum focuses on essential life skills, character development, and making positive choices. The police officers, who are trained to deliver the program, bring real-world experiences with a compassionate approach to their teaching. They encourage students to think critically, develop problem-solving skills, and build resilience in the face of adversity. By creating a classroom atmosphere that is both supportive and empowering, the NOVA Principles Foundation ensures that students feel confident in applying the lessons to their daily lives. This positive and encouraging environment helps students grow into responsible, well-rounded individuals who are equipped to make positive contributions to their communities.
Opportunities
Opportunities are good things that come your way.
- When you make good choices, you allow good opportunities to come your way.
- When you make wrong choices, you don’t allow good opportunities to come your way.
The N.O.V.A. Principles Foundation plays a vital role in helping youth recognize and pursue positive opportunities that can shape their future. Through its carefully designed curriculum, the foundation empowers young people to identify opportunities for personal and academic growth, social engagement, and community involvement. The program encourages students explore new activities, hobbies, and areas of interest that can broaden their horizons. By fostering a mindset of curiosity and exploration, the N.O.V.A. Principles Foundation helps students see the value in seizing opportunities that align with their goals and aspirations.
In addition to guiding students in recognizing these opportunities, the N.O.V.A. Principles Foundation provides the support they need to take action. The foundation’s emphasis on positive reinforcement and encouragement helps students build confidence in their abilities and motivates them to take proactive steps toward achieving their goals. By equipping youth with the confidence to seek out and embrace positive opportunities, the N.O.V.A. Principles Foundation plays a crucial role in their overall development and long-term success.
Values
Values are the fundamental principles, ideals, and standards that guide an individual’s behavior and decisions throughout life. They serve as the moral compass that influences how one interacts with others, responds to challenges, and navigates various situations. These values often stem from cultural, familial, and personal beliefs, and they are deeply ingrained in a person’s character. For many, values like honesty, integrity, respect, and kindness form the foundation of their actions and decisions, shaping how they contribute to society and relate to those around them.
In a broader context, values play a crucial role in building a cohesive and harmonious community. When individuals uphold shared values, such as fairness, empathy, and responsibility, it creates a supportive environment where trust and mutual respect can thrive. Moreover, instilling strong values in youth is essential for their development into responsible, ethical adults who can positively impact society. By embracing and living by good principles, individuals not only enrich their own lives but also contribute to the greater good, helping to create a world where positive ideals and standards are upheld and respected.
Accountability
Accepting responsibility for your choices and actions.
- It’s important to be accountable for your choices & actions.
- If you’re not Accountability is accountable for what you do, you could do anything & get away with it.
- Laws and rules are created to hold people accountable for their choices & actions.
N.O.V.A. Principles Foundation teaches youth the importance of internalizing good values and taking responsibility for their life choices and actions. The program emphasizes that understanding and embracing values such as honesty, integrity, and respect are not just abstract concepts but essential elements that should be reflected in everyday behavior. By encouraging students to internalize these values, the program helps them develop a strong moral compass that guides their decisions. This process of internalization fosters a sense of personal responsibility, as students begin to recognize that their actions have consequences, not only for themselves but also for those around them.
Youth are encouraged to reflect on their decisions, understand the outcomes of their choices, and learn from any mistakes they may make. This reflective process is crucial in helping students develop accountability, as it reinforces the idea that they are in control of their own lives and are responsible for the paths they choose to take. By cultivating this mindset, the N.O.V.A. Principles Foundation empowers youth to take ownership of their actions, make amends when necessary, and strive to consistently make choices that reflect their internalized values.
Parent and Family Involvement
NOVA acknowledges the key role of parents and family in keeping youth away from the harmful effects of illegal drugs, violence, and negative media exposure. NOVA supports parents in this endeavor by teaching youth and also by providing a Parent’s program. The NOVA Parents’ program is derived from sound psychological principles to give parents assistance in raising youth in today’s world.
The Program
The NOVA Principles Elementary program is a 13 to 15-week program taught at the 5th- or 6th-grade level by uniformed law enforcement officers. Some departments provide students participating in this program with a NOVA folder, program materials, and a NOVA T-shirt. NOVA Instructors (Officers) spend time with students in the classroom, at lunch, and on the playground, building a great rapport between students and officers.
The NOVA Principles Jr. High program is a 4-week program taught at the 6th, 7th, or 8th-grade level by uniformed law enforcement officers. Some departments provide students who participate in this program a NOVA folder, and program material.
The NOVA Principles High School program is a 2-week program taught at the 9th, 10th, or 11th-grade level by uniformed law enforcement officers. Students who participate in this program receive program material.
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