NEWSLETTER: Child Abuse Prevention

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• Sexual Abuse in Education
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• Take the Challenge

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Go to http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/personal to learn more and get the software.

This is a horrible topic and certainly no one wants to talk about it. I challenge that we as professional educators need to take the lead in both the discussions and solutions to fix the problem.

Why?

1. Virtually all of us as educators are mandatory reporters of child abuse. This means we must protect children regardless of whether they are abused or exploited outside or within the school walls.
2. Children cannot learn if they are being abused.
3. Classroom teachers are on the front line interacting with children more than anyone else in our schools which puts us in the best place to notice possible signs of child abuse AND to notice indications of inappropriate adult behavior.

We are in a unique position as educators to both create safe learning environments for our students and to report abuse when it happens.

If not us, who?

If not now, when?

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and this gives us a unique opportunity to celebrate the incredible efforts of hard working people in schools, faith communities and non-profits.

Good work can be found among the organizations that have been in the spotlight for child abuse: USA Swimming, Boy Scouts and the Catholic Church have made strong, positive strides forward to protect children today and in the future.

These new practices include:

• Training all clergy, staff, teachers and volunteers to recognize signs of abuse as well as signs that might indicate concern or inappropriate behaviors.
• Conducting background checks on all personnel, both paid staff and volunteers.

Are you in a school or district that wants to step up their efforts in protecting children from abuse? Professional Learning Board will set up and run our  online training web site and provide courses in recognizing and reporting child abuse for all school staff, professionals, volunteers, coaches and parents at NO CHARGE for one selected school or district.

What’s the catch? It’s simple really. The school or district must commit to the following minimum best practices:

• Background checks for ALL staff, professionals, coaches and volunteers working with or around children,
• Have or implement a code of conduct for all people working with children and
• Mandate annual training for all of the above audiences.

If you know of the right school or district that is interested and up to this challenge, please let me know who to contact.

Thank you for all you do to teach and keep children safe.