Again this year, we will be implementing a child sexual abuse prevention program in our schools as the result of the passage of Public Act 097-1147, also known as Erin’s Law. This law expanded upon previous legislation and required child sexual abuse prevention education for children beginning in pre-kindergarten and continuing through all grade levels.
As a reminder regarding the development and scope of the program, a group of social workers and school psychologists from the district worked with our executive director of special education to develop a curriculum that will give the students the knowledge and skills they need to protect themselves. The lessons for 7th and 8th grade will be taught by the guidance department during PE classes on October 21 & 22.
The themes that run throughout the curriculum are body awareness and self-advocacy. We want the children to be able to learn to say “no” when appropriate and to identify when to keep a secret and when to tell. We also help them think about their support system and who are adults that they can trust. They learn that the parts of their body covered by their bathing suits are special.
National statistics tell us that one in three girls and one in seven boys will be sexually abused at some point in their lives. A resource guide for parents from ISBE Faiths Law:
Sexual Abuse Response and Prevention Resource Guide can be found in the Parent Student Handbook. We want to do all that we can, in partnership with you, to make our children as safe as possible. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Addams Junior High