School Programs
Student Awareness Programs
Student Awareness is a series of school programs presented in 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 10th grades in all Decatur City Schools, Hartselle City Schools, Morgan County Schools and private schools upon request. The age appropriate programs are all evidence-based and teach children about abuse and neglect and how to respond to these situations. As students get older, the topics covered expand to include a range of relevant issues that affect their overall well-being and that could put them at a higher risk of abuse. Students are also taught to understand the feelings and emotions, which might be associated with these situations. Students in Morgan County receive Student Awareness Programs five times as they grow and develop from ages six to sixteen. The programs also involve teachers, counselors and parents.
These programs help meet the legislative requirements of Erin's Law, which requires public schools to implement a prevention oriented child sexual abuse program. Curricula that PACT utilizes are endorsed by Erin Merryn, child sexual abuse survivor and founder and president of Erin’s Law.
To learn more about Erin Merryn and Erin’s Law, visit https://www.erinslaw.org/
Follow the links below to learn more about our school programs:
1st,3rd, & 5th Grade Programs
The “MBF Child Safety Matters®” Curriculum from the Monique Burr Foundation for Children is used for 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders. The programs are built using trauma-informed, evidenced-based practices, with a focus on developmental stages and learning styles of children. Each topic is interactive and presented in an engaging way to help children learn the skills to recognize, react to, and report dangerous situations. The program topics cover bullying, cyberbullying, the four types of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, neglect), digital dangers, and provides tools that children can use to be safe. Students learn 5 safety rules that can help them in unsafe situations: Know What’s Up, Spot Red Flags, Make A Move, Talk It Up, No Blame/No Shame. The program emphasizes that adults are responsible for children’s safety, but provides tools that children can use to be safe and that it is NEVER too late to tell and that abuse is NEVER the child’s fault.
For more information from the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, visit https://www.mbfpreventioneducation.org/for-parents/
7th and 10th Grade Programs
The “MBF Teen Safety Matters®” Curriculum from the Monique Burr Foundation for Children is used for 7th and 10th graders. These prevention education programs are comprehensive, research-based, age appropriate, non-threatening. The interactive curriculum speaks to teens in a way they can best learn and respond and helps them recognize, react to, and report dangerous situations. The program empowers them to spot and respond to bullying, cyberbullying, the four types of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, neglect), healthy and unhealthy relationships, relationship abuse, digital abuse, and other digital dangers and provides tools that children can use to be safe. Students learn 5 safety rules that can help them in unsafe situations: Know What’s Up, Spot Red Flags, Make A Move, Talk It Up, No Blame/No Shame. The program emphasizes that adults are still ultimately responsible for teen’s safety, but provides tools that children can use to be safe and that it is NEVER too late to tell and that abuse is NEVER the child’s fault.
For more information from the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, visit https://www.mbfpreventioneducation.org/for-parents/