Prevent Child Abuse Utah provides child abuse and trafficking prevention presentations in Utah schools. Many parents and community leaders have questions about the curriculum and what exactly is taught to students.
Here are some frequently asked questions (and the answers).
- Is this sex-ed disguised as child abuse prevention?
No. Child abuse and trafficking prevention is not sex-ed. Child abuse & trafficking prevention educates students in elementary, middle, and high school in age-appropriate ways to recognize, prevent, and respond to child abuse including neglect, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. The primary focus is teaching students how to identify potential signs of abuse, establish boundaries, and report any suspicious or inappropriate behavior to parents or other trusted adults.
Sex education (sex-ed) primarily aims to provide information about human sexuality and reproductive health. In Utah, sex education is taught in middle and high school and covers changes during adolescence, reproductive anatomy and physiology, the benefits of practicing abstinence, the process of pregnancy, preventing pregnancy, prevention of STI/STDs, and common reproductive diseases, including cancer. To learn more about sex education in Utah’s schools, visit the Utah State Board of Education’s website.
- We have a good community and strong families. If abuse isn’t happening in our community, why is this being taught in our school?
One in seven Utah children are sexually abused before they turn 18. 91% of the time, children are abused by someone they know and trust. Though it is hard to comprehend abuse happening in our community, prevention education benefits everyone, including the six in seven who may not be abused.
Families who understand abuse prevention are better equipped to have open conversations with their children about rules, respect, and appropriate behavior. Prevention education fosters healthy communication and reduces the stigma around discussing sensitive topics. Children who have been taught child abuse and trafficking prevention are more confident in voicing their concerns and seeking help if they encounter harmful situations.
Ensuring that children grow up free from abuse contributes to the overall spiritual, emotional, and social health of the community. Prevention education supports the long-term growth and prosperity of the community, helping future generations create their own strong families.
- What’s your agenda? Are you trying to indoctrinate my kids?
The purpose of Prevent Child Abuse Utah’s school-based program is to strengthen families and empower both children and adults with information to keep kids safe from abuse and trafficking. Prevent Child Abuse Utah was started in Ogden in 1982 for the sole purpose of protecting children. The agency has always been run by caring people who are from Utah and understand the culture of strong families, faithful communities, and the proper role of government in education. Our prevention curriculum was written by Utah parents and has been refined over the past 40+ years to give students the most vital and simplified information in an age-appropriate way. Prevent Child Abuse Utah is it’s own non-profit organization and does business as Prevent Child Abuse Utah. We do not do work from, or in other states. The opinions we listen to and care about are from the parents, educators, community leaders and local elected officials we interact with.
- Are you grooming our kids?
No. Child abuse & trafficking prevention educates school communities how to prevent child abuse–not how to enable it.
Prevent Child Abuse Utah’s presentations identify behaviors of adults and older children who are grooming to gain access to children in an effort to abuse them. These behaviors include testing boundaries, acting overly casual, complimenting a student’s body or appearance, gossiping about teachers or students, communicating secretly by text, email, phone, and social media, and telling inappropriate jokes. People grooming to gain access to kids often encourage them to break rules. This includes family rules about phone use, drugs, and alcohol.
The presentations teach children to listen to their “uh-oh” feeling, say no and then go tell a parent or other trusted adult if an adult or older child does something to cause them discomfort. Children are also taught about what secrets to tell (when someone is breaking family or school rules, when an adult tells a child to keep something from their parents) versus secrets to keep (surprise parties, if they buy a gift for a friend’s birthday)
- Can parents view the curriculum beforehand?
Parents are welcome to view the curriculum at the school’s office before Prevent Child Abuse Utah teaches their children. Intellectual property rights don’t allow digital copies to be sent to parents. Our education specialists are happy to hold a virtual parent night up to a week before they visit the school. Please contact your school administrator to schedule the parent meeting. Alternatively, you may reach out to the program administrator, Emily Sparks, esparks@pcautah.org with any questions you may have.
Parents are highly encouraged to attend class with their students. The concepts and phrases taught in the presentations are meant to be used at home too. Parents who attend are better equipped to continue the conversation at home and better prepared to prevent child abuse and trafficking.
For more information about Prevent Child Abuse Utah’s school-based child abuse and trafficking prevention program, please visit our website.
To schedule your school for child abuse and trafficking prevention presentations, please fill out the form on our website or reach out to Emily Sparks, esparks@pcautah.org.