Notes from the Elementary School Counselor

In December of 2022, Ohio’s 134th General Assembly enacted Erin’s Law (Senate Bill 288) which included requirements for student instruction, parent and legal guardian notification, and training for school personnel on sexual abuse prevention and dating violence prevention.  The law went into effect for the 2023-2024 school year. Students in grades K-6 are required to have one hour of training on sexual abuse prevention annually. To meet the mandate, we plan to present one of the age appropriate resources provided by the Ohio Department of Education. You can find more information about this requirement at  https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Student-Supports/Creating-Caring-Communities/Child-Sexual-Abuse-Dating-Violence-Sexual-Violence. I plan to use the videos found at https://fightchildabuse.org/ as well as some of the materials at https://www.childhelp.org/speakupbesafe/curriculum/ .

The objectives of the lessons include:

  • Students will be able to identify when a situation could be unsafe and share that information with a trusted adult.

  • Students will be able to define what safe people do and do Not do.

  • Students will be able to define what makes someone an unsafe person.

  • Students will be able to identify what makes secrets unsafe.

  • Students will be able to identify adults that they can trust to share information with.

  • Students will be able to identify what is a safe touch.

  • Students will be able to identify ways to be safe when online.

  • Students will be able to identify behaviors that are considered bullying.

Mrs. Staudter plans to present these lessons during classroom guidance in March and April.