Crystal Lake School District 47 presents sexual abuse awareness programs to students

CRYSTAL LAKE – Students across all grade levels in Crystal Lake Elementary School District 47 will receive sexual abuse awareness training this year through a grant from the McHenry County Community Foundation.

The Be Seen and Heard sexual abuse awareness program fulfills the Erin's Law mandate, a law that requires all public schools to implement annual age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse awareness and prevention curriculum for students in pre-K through 12th grade, according to a District 47 news release.

Last year, through the same grant, the district invited the program’s creator, Victor Pacini, to deliver the program to all students. After receiving instruction from Pacini, health; physical education; and science, technology, engineering and mathematics teachers will deliver an expanded Be Seen and Heard curriculum to students across all grade levels at various points during the school year.

“We are grateful to the foundation for providing an opportunity to deliver this program, as it addresses this important mandate and helps us continue to support the social-emotional needs of our students,” professional development and grants director Lori Parrish said. “Mr. Pacini has a gift for delivering valuable information on a sensitive topic for kids of all ages.”

The interactive program is tailored to different grade levels and aligned with learning standards, according to the release. It consists of videos, books and interactive discussions that teach students courage, responsibility, persistence, awareness and resiliency.

The resources include age-appropriate themes and vocabulary depending on the students’ grade levels. Videos are followed by discussion questions a teacher facilitates.

For example, children in kindergarten through second grade learn about safe versus unsafe touching, students in third and fourth grade learn about inappropriate touching and fifth- through 12th-graders engage in discussions about sexual abuse.

“Parents have shown support and gratitude to the district for its effort to teach students about this important but sensitive topic,” District 47 coordinator of community relations Denise Barr said in an email.

Barr added that overall, staff provided positive feedback after Pacini’s presentations, and students found them “entertaining and engaging.”

Pacini is a sexual abuse survivor himself who has presented to more than 1 million students and parents in numerous Illinois school districts and throughout the nation.

Illinois was the second state to adopt Erin’s Law, and it now is among 30 others. The law is pending in 15 states.

It recommends up to four communications a year. Shorter videos will serve as follow-up communication later in the school year, Barr said.

Themes discussed include distinguishing between safe and unsafe touching and safe and unsafe secrets, saying “no,” never placing blame on the child and telling a trusted adult or “trusted hero.”

Erin Merryn founded the law after surviving abuse throughout much of her childhood. She now is an author, speaker, child advocate and activist.