Be Part of the Solution

To End Violence Against Children

In Your Community by Joining

Your Community Coalition!

   One in four children will be sexually abused before their eighteenth birthday.  Shocking, isn't it?  Together, we as adults, can help end this epidemic against children.  To begin this process, The Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence, The Green Bear Club and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services are offering your community a program designed to raise awarenss of this issue.

1. Purpose of a Community Coalition
2. Members of the Ecological Community Coalition Model
3. Targets of the Ecolgogical Community Coalition Model
4. Engaging the Faith-Based Community
5. Elementary School-Based Primary Abuse Prevention Program with Emphasis on Empowering Parents to Protect Their Children
6. Middle School Primary Abuse Prevention Program for Parents, School Personnel and Students
7. Ending Sexual Violence - Forming an Ecological Community Coalition Model
8. Continuing Education Handouts
9. How to Become Part of Our Community Coalition

Purpose of a Community Coalition

   By forming a community coalition, all concerned adults will work together to educate adults and children regarding primary child abuse prevention.  We will provide information through:

• Primary child abuse prevention education classes (for children, concerned adults and professionals who work with or around children)
• Continuing Education information through
• Brochures
• Monthly informational handouts regarding primary child abuse prevention
• Quarterly Newsletters
• Information on our web site
• Media involvement.  (Media outlets will be provided with monthly articles concerning primary child abuse prevention education information)

Members of the Ecological Community Coaltion Model

• The Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence
• Faith-Based Entities
• Community Organizations
• Civic Clubs
• Your community's multidisciplinary team members (law enforcement, Children's Division, juvenile office, probation and parole offices, prosecuting attorney's office)
• Media
• Schools
• Legislators and local government officials

Targets of the Ecological Community Coalition Model

1. Engaging the Faith-Based Community
2. Elementary School-Based Primary Abuse Prevention Program with Emphasis on Empowering Parents to Protect Their Children
3. Middle School Primary Abuse Prevention Program for Parents, School Personnel and Students
4. Forming an Ecological Community Coalition

Engaging the Faith-Based Community

• Each faith-based entity is provided with a sample child abuse prevention policy created by The Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence.  This policy is a composition of different denominational policies and can be modified or used as is.  The faith-based entity may also use their own denomination's child abuse policy.  All parishioners should be provided with this policy for review.
• The Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence will provide the following primary child abuse prevention classes:
• A 2 hour primary child abuse prevention class for church leaders, deacons/elders, teachers and staff.  Content of our program includes ways to prevent abuse from ocurring in churches (establishing appropriate contact between students/teachers, becoming a role model to students, involving adolescents in building non-violent relationships, engaging men as allies, classroom supervision) as well as what to do if child abuse is suspected (mandated reporting laws, how to respond to a child who reports abuse, and how to report suspected abuse to Missouri's Child Abuse Hotline and follow-up).
• Concerned adults.  Parenting 101 is a prevention education class developed to keep all children safe and healthy.  Our 4-session parenting class covers the following topics:
• Parental Responsibility to Children.  In this class, we will discuss the public health approach and discuss norms, beliefs and social and economic systems that create the conditions for sexual assault to occur.  We will also discuss myths and truths regarding sexual abuse and how to protect your children.
• Positive Parenting.  During classtime, we will discuss developing high self-esteem in children, recognizing and understanding your children's feelings and engaging in effective communication with your children.
• Protecting Children Online.  We will discuss the dangers on the internet through different types of communication - X Box, instant messaging, email, web sites, chatting and how to protect children online.
• Graduation with Green Bear.  Adults will learn, first hand, how to talk to children about child abuse prevention by participating in the interaction between children and our Green Bear puppet (a trained staff member).
• Can provide primary child abuse prevention education classes for children (preschool - high school).  We can talk with children during Sunday School class time, children's church, church camp or Vacation Bible School.
• Distribute primary child abuse prevention education information through
• Monthly bulletin inserts
• Quarterly newsletters
• Lesson plans
• Bulletin boards
• Click below for the collaborative agreement with the faith-based community Collaborative_Agreement_faith_based.doc
• Click below for sample child abuse prevention policy for faith based entities Child_Abuse_Prevention_Policy_for_faith-based_entities.doc

Elementary School-Based Primary Abuse Prevention Program with Emphasis on Empowering Parents to Protect Their Children - The Green Bear Club

• The Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence will provide a 2 hour primary child abuse prevention class for school administrators and staff.  Content of our program includes ways to prevent abuse from ocurring in schools (establishing appropriate contact between students/teachers, becoming a role model to students, involving adolescents in building non-violent relationships, engaging men as allies, classroom supervision) as well as what to do if child abuse is suspected (mandated reporting laws, how to respond to a child who reports abuse, and how to report suspected abuse to Missouri's Child Abuse Hotline and follow-up).
• Emphasis on empowering parents to protect children with continuing education.
• Children attend a 30 minute primary child abuse prevention program, The Green Bear Club.  Parents are encouraged to attend this class to learn how they can talk with their children about abuse.
• Monthly articles will be provided for school newsletters.
• Continuing education handouts will be provided to the schools for distribution to parents and staff.
• Parenting 101 classes will be provided either through the schools or a member of the community coalition.
• Click below for the collaborative agreement with schools Collaborative_Agreement_schools.doc

Middle School Primary Abuse Prevention Program for Parents, School Personnel and Students

• The Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence will provide a 2 hour primary child abuse prevention class for school administrators and staff.  Content of our program includes ways to prevent abuse from ocurring in schools (establishing appropriate contact between students/teachers, becoming a role model to students, involving adolescents in building non-violent relationships, engaging men as allies, classroom supervision) as well as what to do if child abuse is suspected (mandated reporting laws, how to respond to a child who reports abuse, and how to report suspected abuse to Missouri's Child Abuse Hotline and follow-up).
• Multi-session class with students (2-5 sessions), on sexual violence/abuse prevention.  On the last day of class, students play a game, Surviving the Dating Game, which is a review of information provided in class.  Content includes:
• Child sexual abuse primary prevention
How to stay SAFE in predating situations (Say What you mean, Avoid secluded places, Forget alcohol and drugs, Encourage group outings)
• Internet dangers
• How to avoid sexual harassment and what to do if sexually harassed
• Date rape drugs and how to avoid them
• What is "grooming" and what to do if it occurs
• What to do if sexually abused/assaulted.
• Students are asked to return an internet danger handout signed by parents providing parents with information on how to keep your child safe online.  (If students bring back the signed paper, they get a bonus point for the game)
• At the end of class, students are asked to indicate 2 things they will do differently to decrease their chances of experiencing sexual violence.
• Continuing Education for parents
• Will provide monthly articles for school newsletters
• Parents are asked to attend Parenting 101 classes
• Click below for an example of the collaborative agreement with schools Collaborative_Agreement_schools.doc