Course Overview

The Kindergarten & 1st grade curriculum was created to teach students that everyone has a right to protect their own body. Students will realize that when someone hurts a child on purpose, it is not the child’s fault and they will learn to recognize physical and sexual abuse in developmentally appropriate ways. The prevention program teaches students how to recognize the difference between secrets to tell and secrets to keep. The curriculum is designed to empower and encourage students to speak up when they feel unsafe, and seek out trusted adults with whom they can discuss potential problems. By the end of the session, the students will know the Three Safety Rules for protecting themselves and develop their own personal safety plan that includes specific names and strategies for getting help.

Each presentation takes place in the individual classroom, which is best practice, so that students can learn in a comfortable, small group setting, ask questions, and have opportunities to participate. Prevent Child Abuse Utah’s curriculum should never be taught in an assembly or large group setting. The topics are sensitive and can be triggering for students who have experienced abuse. It is important for trainers to be able to see and gauge student reactions in order to provide support for each student. Teaching the content in small groups is a trauma-informed practice.

The Kindergarten-1st grade curriculum covers the following points as outlined by the Utah State Board of Education for Human Trafficking Prevention Standards: 

• Grooming (particularly gift giving and secret keeping)
• Appropriate adult behavior
• Trusted adults

It also covers the following standards from the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention standards:

• Sexual misconduct
• Appropriate adult behavior 
• Practice saying no
• Secrets
• Body ownership
• Victims are not at fault 
• Trusting feelings
• Create a reporting plan
• Recognizing warning signs 
• Reporting