Connecticut State Department of Education

State Board of Education now accepting public comments on state charter applications until Jan. 14, 2025.

Statewide K-12 Sexual Assault & Abuse Prevention & Awareness Program Guidelines


Section 5: Recommended Resources


The following resources were identified and recommended by a collaborative committee of community-based organizations, local school districts and state agencies. This list is a sample of available resources and contains only recommendations and does not represent endorsement of specific materials or curricula. It is expected that school districts will work with their teams to identify age- and developmentally- appropriate resources for each school community.

Elementary Grades Pre-K–Grade 4

Classroom Lessons Delivered by Community-Based Organizations

  • The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education

    Feeling Safe: Identifying Feelings

    45-minute lessons for students in grades Pre-K–Grade 4 focused on teaching skill sets for child sexual abuse and assault prevention and awareness: identifying feelings, different types of touches, body autonomy, and the steps to take when someone makes them feel uncomfortable.

Curricula

  • Prevent Child Abuse Vermont

    Care for Kids: Early Childhood Sexuality and Abuse Prevention

    Two-hour professional development training on health-based curriculum for three-eight year olds that highlights the link between healthy sexuality education and sexual abuse prevention.

  • McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center

    High Five!

    Four-week child abuse prevention program for grades K-2.

  • Lauren’s Kids

    Safer, Smarter Kids

    Six lessons on abuse prevention for Pre-K and elementary-aged children.

Professional Development Resources

  • Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center

    Keeping your Children Safe 

    You Are Not Alone

    Two-hour training video for children ages 8-14 that teaches the basics of personal safety in the real and virtual world.

  • The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education

    Preventing & Identifying Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault

    One hour-long training for teachers. Provides education about: local resources, warning signs of sexual abuse and assault, how to respond/report disclosures and the basics of prevention (emotional intelligence, building empathy, boundaries, bystander intervention, etc.)

    Schools that Care: Understanding and Reporting Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault

    One hour-long training for teachers. Provides education about: local resources, warning signs of sexual abuse and assault and how to respond and report disclosures. Includes education about the reporting process and what happens after receiving a disclosure.

    Feeling Safe: Boundaries

    45-minute lesson for 2nd graders focused teaching skill sets for child sexual abuse and assault prevention and awareness: identifying feelings, different types of touches, body autonomy, boundaries and the steps to take when someone makes them feel uncomfortable.

    Feeling Safe: Empathy

    45-minute lesson for 3rd graders focused teaching skill sets for child sexual abuse and assault prevention and awareness: identifying feelings, different types of touches, body autonomy, empathy and the steps to take when someone makes them feel uncomfortable.

    Feeling Safe: Digital Citizenship

    45-minute lesson for 4th and 5th graders on internet safety.

    Feeling Safe: Upstander Power

    Two 45-minute sessions, 4th graders are taught skill sets for child sexual abuse and assault prevention and awareness: identifying feelings, different types of touches, body autonomy, bystander intervention and the steps to take when someone makes them feel uncomfortable.

  • Darkness to Light

    Stewards of Children

    Online prevention training program.

  • Stop It Now!

    Circles of Safety

    Two-day training for adults on proactive prevention.

  • Rape Crisis Center of Milford

    Less Is More: Discoverer’s Training

    Two-hour training aimed at educating teachers and staff on how to receive disclosures of child sexual and physical abuse, collection of minimal facts, proper follow through and reporting procedures. Also has a train-the- trainer model.

Grades 5–8

Lessons Delivered Online or by Community-Based Organizations

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    Dating Matters: Understanding Teen Dating Violence

    60-minute web-based course on teen dating violence for kids age 11-14.

  • The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education

    Feeling Safe: Digital Citizenship

    Three 45-minute lessons for 5th graders that include teaching skills for child sexual abuse and assault prevention and awareness: identifying feelings, different types of touches, body autonomy, bystander intervention, how to use social media safely, boundaries and steps to take when someone makes them feel uncomfortable.

    Bystander Intervention

    45-minute lesson for middle and high school students on intervening in cases of sexual violence.

    Sexual Harassment

    45-minute lesson for middle school children on sexual harassment and discrimination.

    Social Media Safety

    45-minute lesson for middle school age children on social media safety.

    Understanding Sexual Assault

    45-minute lesson for middle school age children on sexual assault.

  • Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center

    You Are Not Alone

    Two-hour training video for children ages 8-14 that teaches the basics of personal safety in the real and virtual world.

  • Women’s Center of Greater Danbury

    Where Do You Stand?

    Two-hour lesson (minimally) on bystander intervention for ages 12+.

Curricula

  • Lauren’s Kids

    Safer, Smarter Kids

    Six lessons on abuse prevention for teens.

  • Wellesley Centers for Women

    Shifting Boundaries

    Six lessons for 6th and 7th graders on dating violence, sexual harassment and bystander interventions.

  • Hazeldon Betty Ford Foundation

    Safe Dates

    Ten-session dating abuse curriculum for 8th and 9th graders.

  • The CAMH Centre for Prevention Science

    The 4th R

    Comprehensive, school-based program on bullying, violence, unsafe sexual behavior, and substance abuse for 13-17 year olds.

Professional Development Resources

  • Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center

    Keeping your Children Safe

    Two-hour training on keeping children safe.

    You Are Not Alone

    Two-hour training video for children ages 8-14 that teaches the basics of personal safety in the real and virtual world.

  • The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education

    Preventing & Identifying Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault

    One hour-long training for teachers. Provides education about: local resources, warning signs of sexual abuse and assault, how to respond/report disclosures and the basics of prevention (emotional intelligence, building empathy, boundaries, bystander intervention, etc.).

    Schools that Care: Understanding and Reporting Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault

    One hour-long training for teachers. Provides education about: local resources, warning signs of sexual abuse and assault and how to respond and report disclosures. Includes education about the reporting process and what happens after receiving a disclosure.

  • Rape Crisis Center of Milford

    Social Media, Sexting and Our Children 

    Less Is More: Discoverer’s Training

    Two-hour training aimed at educating teachers and staff on how to receive disclosures of child sexual and physical abuse, collection of minimal facts, proper follow through and reporting procedures. Also has a train-the- trainer model.

Grades 9–12

Classroom Lessons Delivered by Community-Based Organizations

  • The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education

    Bystander Intervention

    45-minute lesson for middle and high school students on intervening in cases of sexual violence.

    Sexting

    45-minute lesson for high school children on the legal, social and emotional consequences of sexting

    Sexual Harassment and Gender-based Violence

    45-minute lesson for high school children on sexual harassment and gender-based violence

    Understanding Sexual Assault

    45-minute lesson recommended for high school students reviews laws, case examples, consent and sexual assault.

    Know Before You Go

    45-minute lesson for 12th grade discusses college sexual assault, student rights, and the resources available in case of an assault.

  • Women’s Center of Greater Danbury

Curricula

  • Coaching Boys into Men

    Equips coaches to talk to athletes about respect for women, bystander intervention and peer influence.

  • Lauren’s Kids

    Safer, Smarter Kids

    Six lessons on abuse prevention for teens.

  • Hazeldon Betty Ford Foundation

    Safe Dates

    Ten-session dating abuse curriculum for 8th and 9th graders.

  • The CAMH Centre for Prevention Science

    The 4th R

    Comprehensive, school-based program on bullying, violence, unsafe sexual behavior, and substance abuse for 13-17 year olds.

Professional Development Resources

  • Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center

    Keeping your Children Safe

    Two-hour training on keeping children safe.

  • The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education

    Preventing & Identifying Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault

    One hour-long training for teachers. Provides education about: local resources, warning signs of sexual abuse and assault, how to respond/report disclosures and the basics of prevention (emotional intelligence, building empathy, boundaries, bystander intervention, etc.)

    Schools that Care: Understanding and Reporting Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault

    One hour-long training for teachers. Provides education about: local resources, warning signs of sexual abuse and assault and how to respond and report disclosures. Includes education about the reporting process and what happens after receiving a disclosure.

    Social Media, Sexting and Our Children

    One hour-long training for teachers. Provides education about: popular social media, intersection between social media and sexual violence, the ramifications of sexting and reporting requirements.

  • Darkness to Light

    Stewards of Children

    Online prevention training program.

  • Stop It Now!

    Circles of Safety

    Two-day training for adults on proactive prevention.

  • Rape Crisis Center of Milford

    Less Is More: Discoverer’s Training

    Two-hour training aimed at educating teachers and staff on how to receive disclosures of child sexual and physical abuse, collection of minimal facts, proper follow through and reporting procedures. Also has a train-the-trainer model.

State Resources

National Resources

Parent Resources

  • Childhelp

    Prevention and treatment of child abuse, provides a list of books and resources for parents on child sexual abuse.

  • Committee on Children

    Provides information and videos for parents on child sexual abuse: prevention, why kids don't tell, how to talk to and how to respond to child sexual abuse.

  • Darkness to Light

    Grassroots national non-profit organization to educate adults to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.

  • National Child Traumatic Stress Network

    General information on childhood trauma, including information on child sexual abuse.

  • National Children’s Advocacy Center

    Information on Child Sexual Abuse.

  • National Children’s Alliance

    A professional membership organization dedicated to helping local communities respond to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient & put the needs of child victims first.

  • Feeling Safe Program: For Parents

    c.poth@thecenter-ct.org

    203-487-0663

    45 minute training for parents. Provides education about The Feeling Safe Programs for children K-5th grade which teaches children about: identifying feelings, different types of touches, body autonomy, bystander intervention, how to use social media safely, boundaries and steps to take when someone makes them feel uncomfortable.

  • Social Media, Sexting and Our Children:

    203-487-0663

    c.poth@thecenter-ct.org

    One hour long training for parents. Provides education about: popular social media, intersection between social media and sexual violence, the ramifications of sexting and reporting requirements.

  • Understanding Sexual Violence

    203-487-0663

    c.poth@thecenter-ct.org

    One hour long training for parents. Provides education about: different types of sexual violence, laws, skills for prevention, responding to and reporting sexual violence.

  • Parents that Care: Understanding and Reporting Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault

    203-487-0663

    c.poth@thecenter-ct.org

    One hour long training for parents. Provides education about: local resources, warning signs of sexual abuse and assault and how to respond and report disclosures. Includes education about the reporting process and what happens after receiving a disclosure.

  • Preventing & Identifying Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault

    203-487-0663

    c.poth@thecenter-ct.org

    One hour long training for parents. Provides education about: local resources, warning signs of sexual abuse and assault, how to respond/report disclosures and the basics of prevention (emotional intelligence, building empathy, boundaries, bystander intervention, etc.)

LGBTQ Resources

Multicultural/Multilingual Resources

  • Arte Sana Victim Advocacy for Latin@s

    The National Latina Alliance Against Sexual Violence

    National Latina-led network of victim advocates working to address sexual violence.

  • Keeping your Children Safe

    Two hour training on keeping children safe. Curriculum available in Spanish as well as English.

  • Multilingual Access and Resources for Sexual Violence

    National Sexual Violence Resource Center

    877-739-3895

    This is a collection of Resources in Spanish and tips for creating culturally relevant resources.

  • The Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence (formerly CONNSACS) Main Office: 860-282-9881

    The Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence is the statewide coalition of community based sexual assault crisis service programs working to end sexual violence through victim assistance, public policy advocacy, and prevention education training.

    Each member center provides free and confidential 24/7 hotline services in English and Spanish, individual crisis counseling, support groups, accompaniment and support in hospitals, police stations and courts, referral information, and many other vital services to anyone in need.

    24 Hour, Toll-Free Hotlines: 1-888-999-5545 (English) 1-888-568-8332 (Español)

    To find a Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence member program please visit: http://endsexualviolencect.org/

Resources for Children with Disabilities