Council staff provide a variety of child abuse/peer abuse prevention workshops for school personnel, parents and students in grades K-12 in the Greater Cincinnati & Dayton areas.

Since its inception in 1990, over 120,000 children have been served through 5,000 one-hour classroom presentations in more than 500 area schools, including public, parochial and private school settings.  In the 2005/2006 school year, over 13,000 children were served, throughout seven school districts, in 43 schools.

Council Workshop Presenters utilize video and interactive discussions with students in grades K-12 to discuss personal safety issues that focus on sexual assault prevention, peer abuse/bullying and Internet safety.  Students are taught four safety rules: Say No, Try to Get Away, Tell an Adult You Trust, and Be Believed.  Students learn that they can be sexually abused by a stranger, someone they know or even by a family member.  They are reminded that sexual abuse is never a child's fault.  The statistics surrounding sexual abuse are alarming.  It is estimated that 1 out of 3 to 4 girls and 1out of 6 to 8 boys will be sexually abused in some way before the age of 18.

Peer abuse/bullying  is one of the most underrated and enduring problems in our schools.  Over 160,000 children miss school each day due to fear of attack or intimidation.  In response to recent research, a peer abuse/bully program was developed for 5th-9th grades.  Students learn how to recognize, refuse and report bullying behavior. Many schools now include this important component as part of their personal safety curriculum.

Following the classroom presentations, students are invited to talk individually with Workshop Presenters to ask questions or disclose information about their own abuse or other problems requiring adult intervention.  School personnel, local authorities and community resources are contacted and utilized to provide any intervention, treatment or support services needed.

Extension activities are suggested for each school setting and the Council staff is available throughout the year for consultation and assistance as needed.  

All of the Council's Personal Safety Programs meet the requirements of House Bill 55, which became an operational standard for schools, effective 2001.

OHIO HOUSE BILL 55
..."Students in grades K-6 are required to receive instruction in personal safety and assault prevention..."
..."Each person employed by any school district to work as a nurse, teacher, counselor, school psychologist, or administrator, shall complete at least four hours of in-service training in child abuse prevention..."

For more information about the school-based Personal Safety Programs, or to schedule your school, call 513. 936.8009.