Welcome Parents!!! Thank You! We appreciate your taking the time to check out our website and “check in” on some very important PREVENTION info for you and your kids.

The St. Clair County Child Abuse/Neglect Council has been participating in your child’s education for quite some time, as we present Prevention Programming in nearly every St. Clair County School District. Our first encounter was in elementary school when we presented the Bubbylonian Encounter, a live play with actors explaining good touch/bad touch. Next, we caught up with them in middle school with another live play, “Just the Facts”. This play explored personal boundaries and offered suggestions on PREVENTION strategies to be used to protect themselves in uncomfortable situations.

That’s not all! Now that your child is in high school, we educate them this time on the facts about personal body space. Our Council Prevention Coordinator along with a St. Clair County Assistant Prosecutor , explain the law, consequences if laws are broken, and the facts about sexual harassment and sexual assault.

So, as you can see we are invested in your children’s safety.

We believe,…. “An ounce of PREVENTION is worth a pound of cure.”

(Benjamin Franklin)

We appreciate your support, not only in your child’s education but, in our belief that……

“It shouldn’t hurt to be a child”.

The teenage years can be a trying time for you as a parent and also for your child. Teenagers are vulnerable and still growing. Their physical and sexual maturity belie their social and emotional immaturity. Their boldness and bravado mask inexperience in solving problems and coping with stressors that are no match for the risk-laden environment they live in.

THE PROBLEM: By the end of high school, between 10% to 25% of girls and 4% to 10 % of boys are estimated to have been sexually abused. The abuse occurs many times at the hands of those they live with, sometimes from dates, peers and even their employer. The sexual abuse of teens is causally linked to higher rates of mental disorders, substance abuse, running away, early voluntary sexual activity, sexual dysfunction and pregnancy.

Q) What can I do to help?

A) Establish a safe environment for your children.

• Teach personal safety rules:

  • Let kids know you are there for them.
  • Be accessible when they are on a date.
  • Teach them to be assertive and know their limits.
  • Know where they are going, who they are with and what to do if they need your help.
  • Know babysitting employers and where they live.
  • Heads up YES there have been terrible situations involving the babysitter and the adult in families for whom they babysit.

• Monitor sports activities:

  • Know the coach and the assistance coaches.
  • Never leave your child alone at an arena or field unless you have specifically appointed someone in charge.

• Be aware when things just aren't right:

  • Changes in behavior
  • Sudden and drastic mood changes
  • Drop in grades
  • Change in appetite,
  • Weight fluctuation
  • Withdrawal from family and friends.