prevention education
We believe that preventing sexual abuse and assault starts with early education. That’s why we’re committed to providing age-appropriate, empowering education across McLean County—from pre-kindergarten through high school, college students, civic groups, and workplaces.
In compliance with Erin’s Law, which requires public schools to provide prevention-oriented child sexual abuse education, our lessons cover essential topics such as personal safety, stranger safety, safe and unsafe touches, and steps kids can take to stay safe. To learn more about Erin’s Law, visit www.erinslaw.org.
Education is one of the most powerful tools we have to create a safer, more informed community—and we’re proud to lead the way.
A NOTE FOR MCLEAN COUNTY PARENTS
Dear McLean County Families,
Erin’s Law, or Illinois Public Act 097-1147, requires public schools to provide child sexual abuse prevention education for children in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As part of Erin’s Law, YWCA Stepping Stones Prevention Educators will be visiting your child’s classroom over the course of the school year to lead a Healthy Relationships curriculum. To read more please visit www.erinslaw.org.
YWCA Prevention Educators use a curriculum adapted from The Second Step Child Protection Unit by Committee for Children (cfchildren.org).
We teach lessons about personal safety, touching safety and safety steps. During our touching safety lessons, students will learn the difference between safe, unsafe, and unwanted touches. Safe touches are touches that keep you safe and make you feel cared for and important, such as hugs, handshakes, high-fives, and fist bumps. Unsafe touches are touches that hurt your body such as punches, kicks, pinches, and pushes. Unwanted touches are touches that might not hurt but are unwanted, such as hugs from strangers.
Your student will also learn “The Touching Rule,” which teaches that no one should touch our private body parts except to keep us clean and healthy. Students are taught that private body parts are the parts of your body covered by a swimsuit. Your student will also learn what to do if someone breaks The Touching Rule, which we call “The Safety Steps.” The Safety Steps include 1. Say words that mean “No!” 2. Get Away and 3. Tell a Safe Adult. An important lesson woven throughout our curriculum is that secrets do not keep us safe and that no one should ever ask you to keep secrets about touching. Educators will also discuss the difference between secrets (unsafe, unwanted touches, etc.) and surprises (birthday parties, etc.).
It is imperative to have these conversations with children. If you have any questions about how to talk with your child about any of these topics, please do not hesitate to reach out to us via our direct contact information provided. We are committed to working together to keep students safe.
curriculum overview by age
Day 1
Students will identify safe adults at home, at school, and in the community.
Students will identify unsafe adults.
Students will identify strangers as people they do not know.
Students will apply the three safety steps to unsafe situations: say “no” in an assertive voice, get away, and tell a safe adult.
Students will learn the always ask first rule: “Always ask first before you go somewhere or take something.”
Facilitator will reinforce lesson concepts through role play.
Day 2
Students will identify safe touches as the touches that make them happy and do not hurt their bodies.
Students will identify unsafe touches as the touches that hurt their bodies.
Students will develop skills to say no to touch they don’t want whether it is safe or unsafe.
Students will demonstrate the safety steps: say no in an assertive voice, get away, and tell a safe adult.
Day 3
Students will recite and understand the touching rule: “No one can touch your private body parts, except to keep you clean and healthy.”
Students will identify safe adults that may need to assist with keeping private body parts clean and healthy (i.e. parents and doctors.)
Students will recognize private body parts as the parts of the body covered by a swimsuit.
Students will understand that both children and adults must follow this rule.
Facilitator will emphasize the importance of telling a safe adult if someone breaks the touching rule.
Students will learn to never keep secrets about touching.
Facilitator will define privacy and emphasize the importance of respecting each other’s privacy.
Day 1
Students will identify safe adults at home, at school, and in the community.
Students will identify unsafe adults.
Students will identify strangers as people they do not know.
Students will apply the three safety steps to unsafe situations: say no in an assertive voice, get away, and tell a safe adult.
Students will learn the always ask first rule: “Always ask first before you go somewhere or take something.”
Students will learn the definition of intuition and the importance of trusting their intuition.
Students in 2nd-3rd will apply the information learned, by discussing the second step scenarios.
Day 2
Students will identify safe touches as the touches that make them happy and do not hurt their bodies.
Students will identify unsafe touches as the touches that hurt their bodies.
Students will identify unwanted touches as the touches that are not wanted or make them feel uncomfortable.
Students will develop skills to say no to touch they don’t want whether it is safe or unsafe.
Students will demonstrate the safety steps: say no in an assertive voice, get away, and tell a safe adult.
Day 3
Students will recite and understand the touching rule: “No one can touch your private body parts, except to keep you clean and healthy.”
Students will identify safe adults that may need to assist with keeping private body parts clean and healthy (i.e. parents and doctors.)
Students will recognize private body parts as the parts of the body covered by a swimsuit.
Facilitator will emphasize the importance of telling a safe adult if someone breaks the touching rule.
Students will understand that both children and adults must follow this rule.
Students will differentiate a safe secret from an unsafe secret.
Facilitator will define privacy.
Day 1
Students will identify safe adults at home, at school, and in the community.
Students will identify unsafe adults.
Students will apply the three safety steps to unsafe situations: say no in an assertive voice, get away, and tell a safe adult.
Students will identify strangers as people they do not know.
Students will learn the always ask first rule: “Always ask first before you go somewhere or take something.”
Students will learn the definition of intuition and the importance of trusting their intuition.
Students will apply the information learned, by discussing the second step scenarios.
Day 2
Students will identify safe touches as the touches that make them happy and do not hurt their bodies.
Students will identify unsafe touches as the touches that hurt their bodies.
Students will identify unwanted touches as the touches that are not wanted or make them feel uncomfortable.
Students will develop skills to say no to touch they don’t want whether it is safe or unsafe.
Students will demonstrate the safety steps: say no in an assertive voice, get away, and tell a safe adult.
Day 3
Students will recite and understand the touching rule: “No one can touch your private body parts, except to keep you clean and healthy.”
Students will identify safe adults that may need to assist with keeping private body parts clean and healthy (i.e. parents and doctors.)
Students will recognize private body parts as the parts of the body covered by a swimsuit.
Students will understand that both children and adults must follow this rule.
Facilitator will emphasize the importance of telling a safe adult if someone breaks the touching rule.
Students will learn to never keep secrets about touching.
Facilitator will define privacy and emphasize the importance of respecting each other’s privacy.
Key Concepts:
- Stepping Stones and services introduction
- What is Erin’s Law?
- Sexual Abuse
- Sexual Harassment
- Trusted Adults
- Safe and Unsafe Secrets
- Consent
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wOqcU79Rh8
- Boundaries
- What Makes Me Comfortable? activity
- Students will trace their hand on a piece of paper. They will then write the things that they are comfortable with on the inside of their hand and write the things they are not comfortable with on the outside.
- What Makes Me Comfortable? activity
Key Concepts:
- Stepping Stones and services introduction
- What is Erin’s Law?
- Sexual Abuse
- Sexual Harassment
- Trusted Adults
- Grooming
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUjwHPah72o
- Safe and Unsafe Secrets
- Consent
- Boundaries
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-CqifOE0Nw
Key Concepts:
- Stepping Stones and services introduction
- What is Erin’s Law?
- Sexual Abuse
- Sexual Harassment
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKk-pbeW3ic&t=1s
- Trusted Adults
- Grooming
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOyg6IrfuzA
- Safe and Unsafe Secrets
- Consent
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AArIv-tvxWE
- Boundaries