A Community for Educators, Schools and Day Care Centers
As an educational leader, you have the opportunity to support the overarching goals of TAALK’s Prevention Initiative including:
• Decreasing the incidence of child sexual abuse
• Increasing the likelihood of early disclosure
• Increasing the number of cases reported to local authorities
• Increasing the likelihood of early disclosure
• Increasing the number of cases reported to local authorities
Below are 3 concrete steps you can take to make a difference:
#1 Become an Awareness Partner
As you can imagine and have probably experienced for yourself, child sexual abuse is a difficult subject for most adults to talk about, let alone the children who are its victims. As such we must begin with the basics of breaking the silence and teaching adults “the language of abuse.”
TAALK lowers the incidence of child sexual abuse by raising awareness in the community through presentations and open forums where community members come to learn about the child sexual abuse epidemic and its impact on survivors and the community. The open forums provide the opportunity for teachers, staff and community members to ask questions, share their concerns and simply learn to talk about this difficult subject through participation.
Time: Presentations typically run 45-60 minutes and open forums work best if they are 1-1.5 hours.
Cost: There is no cost to the district, individual schools or community members.
Your Role: Sponsor awareness presentations and open forums, providing the facilities at the district office and/or individual schools and promoting the meetings through your existing communication vehicles.
Time: Presentations typically run 45-60 minutes and open forums work best if they are 1-1.5 hours.
Cost: There is no cost to the district, individual schools or community members.
Your Role: Sponsor awareness presentations and open forums, providing the facilities at the district office and/or individual schools and promoting the meetings through your existing communication vehicles.
#2 Become a Prevention Partner
Once adult community members are aware of the prevalence of the child sexual abuse epidemic, they’ll be looking for a more thorough understanding of the signs to look for in children and offenders, how to prevent it and what to do if a child discloses abuse to them. They’ll also be looking for more information about how to open the lines of communication with their children about abuse.
TAALK further lowers the incidence of child sexual abuse and increases the reporting rates by teaching adults to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. In addition, our teen and children’s programs give students “the language of abuse,” increasing the likelihood of early disclosure. These programs serve as the basis for initial and on-going communication between children and trusted adults.
TAALK further lowers the incidence of child sexual abuse and increases the reporting rates by teaching adults to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. In addition, our teen and children’s programs give students “the language of abuse,” increasing the likelihood of early disclosure. These programs serve as the basis for initial and on-going communication between children and trusted adults.
30-40% of child sexual abuse happens at the hands of a family member so the kids don’t know where to turn; they often need someone outside the family they can trust. Kids are more likely to disclose to adults who are comfortable with the subject and who they believe can protect them.
Another 50% of child sexual abuse happens at the hands of someone outside the family that the child trusts. Pedophiles seek opportunity and since the public school system is the largest youth serving institution in the country, pedophiles will want to work for you. By offering prevention training and making it publically known, you put offenders on notice that you’re serious about preventing child sexual abuse and that your teachers, staff, parents and students have the knowledge and resources to stop it. Pedophiles will naturally seek employment elsewhere.
TAALK has selected Darkness to Light’s® evidence based Stewards of Children training curriculum as their core prevention program for adults. This course educates adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse and was recognized as the 2007 Crime Prevention Program of the Year by the National Crime Prevention Council.
The program consists of a formal curriculum which includes an interactive workbook and a 7 step guide to protecting our children for each participant and is accompanied by a multi-media presentation integrating segments of sexual abuse survivors relating their stories of violation and healing with segments from professionals who interface daily with the problem of sexual abuse.
We recommend that as an educational organization, you train your teachers and staff, and sponsor Stewards of Children classes for your students’ parents. Furthermore, we recommend that you comingle your teachers and staff with the parents in these classes. We have seen the greatest success when educational institutions take the lead to create a partnership with the PTA and parents to address this epidemic.
Of course, as educators your teachers and staff are mandated reporters and this class will help them understand the signs to look for and better prepare them to handle disclosures.
Time: This is a 3 hour program and can be delivered as a single session or two 1.5 hour sessions. This class can be offered as mandatory training or optional professional development hours for your teachers and staff, or simply a recommendation to be taken advantage of personally along with parents.
Cost: $35/person for individuals, $25/person for groups of 10-20, $15/person for groups of 21 or more. With your commitment to train your teachers and staff, we will work with the PTA, Boosters Club, foundations, local businesses and individual donors to secure scholarships for your teachers and staff, if necessary.
Your Role: Sponsor Stewards of Children training, providing the facilities at the district office and/or individual schools and promoting the meetings through your existing communication vehicles.
The program consists of a formal curriculum which includes an interactive workbook and a 7 step guide to protecting our children for each participant and is accompanied by a multi-media presentation integrating segments of sexual abuse survivors relating their stories of violation and healing with segments from professionals who interface daily with the problem of sexual abuse.
We recommend that as an educational organization, you train your teachers and staff, and sponsor Stewards of Children classes for your students’ parents. Furthermore, we recommend that you comingle your teachers and staff with the parents in these classes. We have seen the greatest success when educational institutions take the lead to create a partnership with the PTA and parents to address this epidemic.
Of course, as educators your teachers and staff are mandated reporters and this class will help them understand the signs to look for and better prepare them to handle disclosures.
Time: This is a 3 hour program and can be delivered as a single session or two 1.5 hour sessions. This class can be offered as mandatory training or optional professional development hours for your teachers and staff, or simply a recommendation to be taken advantage of personally along with parents.
Cost: $35/person for individuals, $25/person for groups of 10-20, $15/person for groups of 21 or more. With your commitment to train your teachers and staff, we will work with the PTA, Boosters Club, foundations, local businesses and individual donors to secure scholarships for your teachers and staff, if necessary.
Your Role: Sponsor Stewards of Children training, providing the facilities at the district office and/or individual schools and promoting the meetings through your existing communication vehicles.
Prevention Training for Children
Approximately 20% of victims of sexual abuse are under age 8.
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50% of all victims of forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object,
and forcible fondling are under age 12.
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The median age for reporting abuse is 9 years old.
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Most child victims never report the abuse.
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50% of all victims of forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object,
and forcible fondling are under age 12.
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The median age for reporting abuse is 9 years old.
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Most child victims never report the abuse.
As these statistics show, sexual abuse happens at an early age. Our adult prevention programs teach parents how to talk with their kids about abuse before it happens but in situations where abuse happens in the home, it is crucial for kids to learn “the language of abuse” outside the home.
TAALK has adopted the child sexual abuse curriculum developed by Kids on the Block for their primary prevention education for elementary school children. This curriculum uses life sized puppets in an interactive program that helps kids understand what sexual abuse is, the importance of asking for help and who to ask for help. The curriculum also includes follow up activities which help keep the lines of communication open with the children after the class.
Time: This curriculum is typically incorporated with other Kids on the Block skits such as Bullies and School Safety or Healthy Eating and Dental Care, to create a 45-60 minute health and safety program. Typically this training is scheduled annually for all students within a particular grade (usually 3rd or 4th). Because it is interactive, it is recommended that the class size be kept to a standard class size rather than a large assembly program. As such most schools will schedule back to back sessions to accommodate all of the kids in a single grade on one day.
Cost: Our list price is $200 but this fee can be waived if the district or school cannot cover the cost. With your commitment to train your students, we will work with the PTA, Boosters Club, foundations, local businesses and individual donors to secure a donation, if necessary.
Your Role: Schedule Child Prevention Training annually for all students within a particular grade. This training can be incorporated into your physical education or health education curriculum.
Prerequisites: Teachers, Staff and preferably parents must have already participated in the Stewards of Children Training. This training helps schools gain support from the parents to allow their kids to participate in this program and is essential in preparing the adults to handle potential disclosures. We also require that a school counselor, nurse or representative from Social Services be present during student trainings to handle any immediate disclosures.
TAALK has adopted the child sexual abuse curriculum developed by Kids on the Block for their primary prevention education for elementary school children. This curriculum uses life sized puppets in an interactive program that helps kids understand what sexual abuse is, the importance of asking for help and who to ask for help. The curriculum also includes follow up activities which help keep the lines of communication open with the children after the class.
Time: This curriculum is typically incorporated with other Kids on the Block skits such as Bullies and School Safety or Healthy Eating and Dental Care, to create a 45-60 minute health and safety program. Typically this training is scheduled annually for all students within a particular grade (usually 3rd or 4th). Because it is interactive, it is recommended that the class size be kept to a standard class size rather than a large assembly program. As such most schools will schedule back to back sessions to accommodate all of the kids in a single grade on one day.
Cost: Our list price is $200 but this fee can be waived if the district or school cannot cover the cost. With your commitment to train your students, we will work with the PTA, Boosters Club, foundations, local businesses and individual donors to secure a donation, if necessary.
Your Role: Schedule Child Prevention Training annually for all students within a particular grade. This training can be incorporated into your physical education or health education curriculum.
Prerequisites: Teachers, Staff and preferably parents must have already participated in the Stewards of Children Training. This training helps schools gain support from the parents to allow their kids to participate in this program and is essential in preparing the adults to handle potential disclosures. We also require that a school counselor, nurse or representative from Social Services be present during student trainings to handle any immediate disclosures.
Empowerment Training for Teens
Victims of child sexual abuse report more symptoms of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), more sadness, and more school problems than non-victims.
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Victims of child sexual abuse report more substance abuse problems. 70-80% of sexual abuse survivors report excessive drug and alcohol use.
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An estimated 60% of teen first pregnancies are preceded by experiences of molestation, rape, or attempted rape. The average age of their offenders is 27 years.
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Adolescent victims of violent crime have difficulty in the transition to adulthood,
are more likely to suffer financial failure and physical injury,
and are at risk to fail in other areas due to problem behaviors and outcomes of the victimization.
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Victims of child sexual abuse report more substance abuse problems. 70-80% of sexual abuse survivors report excessive drug and alcohol use.
~
An estimated 60% of teen first pregnancies are preceded by experiences of molestation, rape, or attempted rape. The average age of their offenders is 27 years.
~
Adolescent victims of violent crime have difficulty in the transition to adulthood,
are more likely to suffer financial failure and physical injury,
and are at risk to fail in other areas due to problem behaviors and outcomes of the victimization.
As these statistics indicate, survivors suffer significant consequences that will likely last into adulthood if they don’t receive help. If we haven’t reached them yet, let’s make sure we do before they leave high school so that they have a chance to become healthy productive adults.
As our earlier statistics show, by the time a child reaches their teen years abuse has already occurred for many. Therefore, our teen program focuses more on what abuse is and encouraging victims to seek help rather than on prevention. The program consists of an adult survivor of child sexual abuse sharing their story of abuse and their healing journey and then providing the opportunity for the students to ask questions, any question. This casual interactive approach helps teens learn to talk openly about abuse. We end the program by providing information about healthy boundaries, teen dating and internet safety which is good for all teens but particularly important for survivors who are susceptible to revictimization.
Time: 45-60 minutes. Typically this training is scheduled annually for all students within a particular grade (usually sophomores) and the boys and girls are split. Because it is interactive, it is recommended that the class size be kept to a standard class size rather than a large assembly program. As such most schools will schedule back to back sessions to accommodate all of the teens in a single grade on one day.
Cost: Our list price is $100 but this fee can be waived if the district or school cannot cover the cost.
Your Role: Schedule Teen Empowerment Training annually for all students within a particular grade. This training can be incorporated into your physical education or health education curriculum.
Prerequisites: Teachers, Staff and preferably parents must have already participated in the Stewards of Children Training. This training helps schools gain support from the parents to allow their kids to participate in this program and is essential in preparing the adults to handle potential disclosures. We also require that a school counselor, nurse or representative from Social Services be present during student trainings to handle any immediate disclosures.
#3 Request a Child Sexual Abuse Policy Review
As our earlier statistics show, by the time a child reaches their teen years abuse has already occurred for many. Therefore, our teen program focuses more on what abuse is and encouraging victims to seek help rather than on prevention. The program consists of an adult survivor of child sexual abuse sharing their story of abuse and their healing journey and then providing the opportunity for the students to ask questions, any question. This casual interactive approach helps teens learn to talk openly about abuse. We end the program by providing information about healthy boundaries, teen dating and internet safety which is good for all teens but particularly important for survivors who are susceptible to revictimization.
Time: 45-60 minutes. Typically this training is scheduled annually for all students within a particular grade (usually sophomores) and the boys and girls are split. Because it is interactive, it is recommended that the class size be kept to a standard class size rather than a large assembly program. As such most schools will schedule back to back sessions to accommodate all of the teens in a single grade on one day.
Cost: Our list price is $100 but this fee can be waived if the district or school cannot cover the cost.
Your Role: Schedule Teen Empowerment Training annually for all students within a particular grade. This training can be incorporated into your physical education or health education curriculum.
Prerequisites: Teachers, Staff and preferably parents must have already participated in the Stewards of Children Training. This training helps schools gain support from the parents to allow their kids to participate in this program and is essential in preparing the adults to handle potential disclosures. We also require that a school counselor, nurse or representative from Social Services be present during student trainings to handle any immediate disclosures.
#3 Request a Child Sexual Abuse Policy Review
Since pedophiles seek opportunity, it is crucial that school districts take all precautions possible to protect the safety of their students while on campus. Some people think that protecting kids from sexual abuse is a huge task but in reality, protecting kids is easy – it’s a matter of choice.
One of the choices you can make is to ensure the district has policies and procedures in place that actively protect children from sexual abuse and facilitate effective reporting. Of course, those policies also have to be communicated and enforced to be valuable. Strong policies not only protect children, they lower the likelihood of lawsuits against the district and may even lower your insurance premiums.
Upon request, TAALK will review your current child sexual abuse policy and reporting procedures and make recommendations based on best practices. We will supply sample language if there are specific areas of improvement identified. Our feedback should not be taken as legal advice and any recommendations should be reviewed with appropriate district personnel and your attorneys.
Time: 30-60 minutes.
Cost: There is no cost to the district.
Your Role: Simply submit your policy documents to policyreview@taalk.org and we will return a written response.
One of the choices you can make is to ensure the district has policies and procedures in place that actively protect children from sexual abuse and facilitate effective reporting. Of course, those policies also have to be communicated and enforced to be valuable. Strong policies not only protect children, they lower the likelihood of lawsuits against the district and may even lower your insurance premiums.
Upon request, TAALK will review your current child sexual abuse policy and reporting procedures and make recommendations based on best practices. We will supply sample language if there are specific areas of improvement identified. Our feedback should not be taken as legal advice and any recommendations should be reviewed with appropriate district personnel and your attorneys.
Time: 30-60 minutes.
Cost: There is no cost to the district.
Your Role: Simply submit your policy documents to policyreview@taalk.org and we will return a written response.
Summary
90% of child sexual abuse happens at the hands of someone the child knows and trusts and only 10% by strangers. We cannot expect to truly protect our kids by teaching them to beware of strangers; the previously cited statistics prove that this simply doesn’t work.
Pedophiles exist in all communities, within a variety of youth serving organizations and in our homes. Because most child victims do not report and many are not convicted, we cannot rely on Megan’s Law and the Sex Offender Registry to tell us who the pedophiles are and where they live. Pedophiles are masters of deception and highly skilled in image management. Protecting our kids from people we love and trust doesn’t come naturally, it’s a learned skill and TAALK can teach you.
Pedophiles exist in all communities, within a variety of youth serving organizations and in our homes. Because most child victims do not report and many are not convicted, we cannot rely on Megan’s Law and the Sex Offender Registry to tell us who the pedophiles are and where they live. Pedophiles are masters of deception and highly skilled in image management. Protecting our kids from people we love and trust doesn’t come naturally, it’s a learned skill and TAALK can teach you.
Now you know how you can help; the only question is will you help?
