Keeping Utah's Children Safe

In 2014, Utah’s Child Sexual Abuse Prevention law was passed.  Advocates of the bill included Elizabeth Smart, Deodra Brown, and Rabbi Avremi Zippel. In 2019, the law was updated to include trafficking prevention. 

Statistics: 

• 1 in 7 Utah children will be sexually abused by age 18
• 91% of the time, children are sexually abused by someone they know and trust
• It is estimated that the impacts of child sexual abuse cost the state of Utah $1 billion annually

• 50% of abuse incidents are perpetrated by minors
• Participation in prevention education halves the likelihood of child sexual abuse
• “For every $1 invested in prevention, Utah saves $5.70” Governor Spencer Cox

Utah’s State Board of Education serves several different purposes in the administration and oversight of the state’s K-12 education system. In regards to child abuse & trafficking prevention education, USBE sets education policy and approves curriculum. It ensures that the content taught aligns with state standards and educational goals.

Child abuse & trafficking prevention must meet the Minimum Expectations for Youth Curriculum (K-6) set by USBE. 

Any organization can create prevention curriculum and go through the process of approval set by USBE Rule R277-630. The curriculum written and delivered by Prevent Child Abuse Utah is the only one approved for child abuse and trafficking prevention in K-6th grades.

Unfortunately, the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention law passed in 2014 is an unfunded mandate. The legislature has not allocated funding for child abuse & trafficking prevention for Utah’s children.  

Through private fundraising, Prevent Child Abuse Utah has delivered prevention education to Utah’s school communities. Many generous corporations, private foundations, and individuals have donated to ensure Utah’s students are receiving this vital education. 

With current funding, Prevent Child Abuse Utah is reaching 11% of elementary schools across the state. Ten rural counties have never received child abuse & trafficking prevention. 

You can provide prevention education to Utah’s schools by donating here: https://pcautah.org/donate/

Prevent Child Abuse Utah’s Education Team visits a school for 2 days:

Kindergarten and 1st grade receive 1 day of instruction for 30 mins;

2nd through 6th grades receive 2 days of instruction for 1 period each day. 

Education Specialists teach children to recognize, resist, and report child abuse. The  presentations are evidence-informed, age-appropriate, and taught with visual aids, games, books, coloring sheets, and Prevent Child Abuse Utah’s very own mascot, Safety Saurus.  

The topics covered in K-3rd grade presentations include:

• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse including a story that discusses signs of grooming and secrets to keep vs. secrets to tell
• Trusted adults including parents, who care and will listen if a child suspects abuse or is being abused. Children are taught to keep telling until someone believes them. 
• Body Safety: Children are taught they own their body and that it’s ok to say no to physical touch
• Safety Rules: 1) Listen to your uh-oh feeling 2) Say no 3) Go tell

The topics covered in 4th-6th grade presentations include:

• Physical abuse including Utah’s spanking law and healthy discipline options
• Emotional abuse and the impact on children
• Neglect including the seven basic needs of children, why neglect happens, and how to access resources at school 
• Sexual abuse including contact vs non-contact abuse, situations of healthy physical touch that are not sexual abuse, and online safety
• Trafficking, an introduction to labor trafficking and sex trafficking 
• Trusted adults including parents, who care and will listen if a child suspects abuse or is being abused. Children are taught to keep telling until someone believes them. 
• Body Safety: Children are taught they own their body, it’s ok to say no to say to physical touch or comments made about their body 
• Grooming including behaviors of adults or older children engaging in grooming to gain access to children. 
• Safety Rules: recognize, resist, and report abuse

Education Specialists are highly skilled in managing a class and setting expectations of respect and compassion. If a child discloses abuse, Prevent Child Abuse Utah knows how to direct a child so that the class is not disrupted and how to report abuse to child protective services. 

Prevent Child Abuse Utah’s child abuse & trafficking prevention program uses age-appropriate content and focuses on responsible reporting which minimizes the risk of anxiety while providing children with tools to protect themselves.

Professionally trained educators, a supportive environment, and family involvement also contribute to the success of the school-based program. Research shows that false allegations of sexual abuse among children are very uncommon. Offering child abuse & trafficking prevention does not result in the increase of false reporting.

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 on teaching individuals 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 USBE’s website.