Prevention
Child Sexual Abuse is Preventable
Through community education, it is our hope that we will be able to prevent child sexual abuse from happening in the first place. By collectively committing to child abuse prevention, we have the power to build a safer, healthier community for our children and for generations to come.
2023 IMPACT NUMBERS
97%
We are in 97% of elementary schools in Ottawa County, educating kids kindergarten through 4th grade on body safety
17,616
17,616 kids heard prevention messages in elementary schools in 2023
1,390
1,390 adults received prevention education in 2023
Educating Families
Parents and caregivers are critical to preventing and interrupting child sexual abuse. While we may initiate conversation, we want to ultimately empower parents to continue talking with their kids about safety from abuse.
Educating Community
Together we can create a safer community for our collective children. We offer a variety of free trainings on topics related to child sexual abuse prevention.
Educating Teachers
Teachers often become designated safe adults for kids and are trusted to meet kids with belief and support around sensitive issues. We want to equip and support teachers in this responsibility of being a child’s safe person.
Models of Prevention
Primary prevention means stopping abuse before it happens. This is the most familiar level of prevention. Even if abuse has already occurred, there are still opportunities to prevent it from continuing. Read more about the levels of prevention and how we provide them at the CAC.
Additional Prevention Resources
Here at the Children’s Advocacy Center, we acknowledge, honor, and promote the role of parents in talking with their children about sensitive topics such as child sexual abuse. Parents are critical to successful prevention and intervention. We encourage you to talk often with your kids about body safety and boundaries! We have some great resources to help guide your conversations.
Connect with Us
Reach out to us if we can help you or someone you know. We would love to help determine the next steps and give support.
Are you a community member or organization looking to partner? Connect with us at 616-393-6123 or email us at info@cac-ottawa.org. We will respond as soon as possible.