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SAFE-T Teacher Training. A Program of: Prevent Child Abuse Vermont. What Child Sexual Abuse Is.
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SAFE-T Teacher Training A Program of: Prevent Child Abuse Vermont
What Child Sexual Abuse Is “Any act or acts by any person involving sexual molestation or exploitation of a child including but not limited to incest, prostitution, rape, sodomy, or any lewd and lascivious conduct involving a child.”1 “Child sexual abuse is defined as (a) any sexual act between an adult and a minor, or between two minors, when one exerts power over the other; and (b) forcing or persuading a child to engage in any type of sexual act.”2 1 Vermont Law (33. V.S.A. § 4912), 2Mitchell, 2010
Physical & Non Physical Acts • Physical • Frottage • Fondling genitals • Oral contact with genitals • Penetration with digits • Intercourse • Non Physical • Exposure • Voyeurism • Pornography • Inviting touch in a sexual way • Encouraging a child to masturbate or watch others masturbate
Grooming A subtle, gradual, and escalating process of building trust with a child. • Offenders often start by grooming adults to ensure their time is welcomed and encouraged. • Grooming increases the offenders access to the child while decreasing suspicion.
Potential Indicators of Child Sexual Abuse Sexual • Sexual knowledge beyond age expectations • Preoccupation with sexual behavior • Unresponsive to adult limits on sexual behavior • Sexual exploration between children with significant differences in age or size • Child seems overly secretive, intense, or ashamed about the behavior Behavioral • Abrupt changes in behavior • Increased guardedness, mistrust, and watchfulness • Acting out, anger problems, fighting, cruelty towards others, delinquency • Withdrawal • Unusual level of modesty or body-shame
Responding to Disclosures • Find a private place for this discussion. • Let the child describe what happened in his or her own words • Gather only the minimum amount of information necessary • Maintain a calm demeanor • Believe the child • Reassure the child • Respond
History of Child Sexual Abuse Prevention • Programs developed with little basis in research • Stranger danger • No, Run, Tell • Different types of touch • Self-protection • These were shown to be ineffective, because: • They put the onus on children to protect themselves • Strangers only account for 10% of offenders • Concepts were too abstract
PCAV’s Approach to Prevention • Emphasizes adult responsibility • Takes a victim, perpetrator, and bystander approach • Engages parents, schools, and communities in prevention • Is trauma informed • Comprehensive and building sequence
Comprehensive Prevention 1AAUW Educational Foundation, 2001 2OJJDP, Dec 2009
SAFE-T is Research Based • Based on best practices in sexual abuse and youth violence prevention and in resiliency and asset development • SAFE-T is reflective of a variety of different learning styles by using: • Experiential and creative arts projects • Speaking, listening, and writing assignments • Lots of movement • Videos, workbooks, and visitors in the classroom
Comprehensive Prevention:Risk and Protective Factors • The SAFE-T scale • SAFE-T units are constructed around risk and protective factors linked to resiliency and empowerment
How to Use Curriculum Guide • The Introduction and Preface contain information on: • Program philosophy • Program model and research • SAFE-T units 1-10 • National and Vermont Framework of Standards • Each unit begins with an introduction and unit overview for the teacher • Appendices A-D contain additional information and resources for supporting students, parents, and the community
SAFE-T’s Units: 1-5 • Support Systems • Introduce personal/social responsibility • Self Awareness, Self Esteem, & Empathy • Expressing thoughts and feelings • Empathy • Coping skills • Communication Skills • Assertiveness • Saying “no” • Manipulation • Healthy Sexuality & Relationships • Focus is on the whole person • Sexual Harassment • Sex Roles, Stereotypes, & the Media • Respect & equality • Domination, exploitation, and prejudice
SAFE-T’s Units: 6-10 • Power and Consent • Healthy use of power vs. abuse of power • Mutual consent vs. manipulation • Sexual Abuse • Facts and realities • Myths and denial • Resources • Survival, Protection & Healing • Self and peer protection • Early intervention • School policy and the legal system • Healing • Risk Factors for Sexual Offending • The role of blaming, excusing, minimizing, justifying and assuming • Teens Taking Action • Personal change • Social change project • Celebration
SAFE-T Success: Evaluation Findings • Reduction in risk factors for violence: • substance use • dating violence perpetration • sexual victimization • acceptance of couple violence • Increase in protective factors: • perceived school support • knowledge of sexual risk behaviors • knowledge of areas related to sexual myths and sexual harassment