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For Immediate Release
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Contact:Jacqueline Reis, 781-338-3115

Baker-Polito Administration Promotes Child Safety During Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Encourages all child care agencies and schools to post "Knowing My Rules for Safety" signs

BOSTON - In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness and Child Abuse Prevention month in April, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito and the commissioners of the Departments of Elementary and Secondary Education and Early Education and Care are partnering to promote children's safety and violence prevention through education in schools across the Commonwealth. In particular, the administration is urging educators to help spread tips that can help students be safe around strangers, an effort required by the Jeffrey Curley Law, which was passed January 4, 2001. "Governor Baker and I thank all the education leaders who have stepped up and are already committed to promoting the safety of the children of the Commonwealth," said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, chair of the Governor's Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. "Understanding that awareness and education are two important keys to preventing future victimization, we call upon all schools and child care providers to join us in doing all we can to keep children safe throughout the year." "We would like to thank the educators who already work with students on issues of sexual assault and abuse – educators who recognize that these are issues to work on all year, not just this month," said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester. "The security of Massachusetts' children is paramount to the Department of Early Education and Care, and we are working closely with schools and public safety officials to help educators and families keep children safe," said Commissioner of Early Education and Care Tom Weber. "Providing information and resources to parents and teachers in schools and early education settings is critical to protecting children and supporting their healthy development and well-being." The Jeffrey Curley Law requires the state to promote the display of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's "Knowing My Rules for Safety" poster, which offers simple and practical guidance in protecting children from sexual abuse. The rules urge children to check with their parents or trusted adult before going anywhere, helping anyone, accepting anything or getting into a car. The rules also tell children to take a friend instead of playing alone outside, say no if anyone tries to touch or hurt them, and tell a trusted adult if anything makes them feel sad, scared or confused. State officials are urging educators to share these messages through district press releases, hanging the rules where children will see them in schools, distributing the rules to parents as flyers, posting the information on school websites and social media and talking with students about the rules during April and throughout the school year. The Jeffrey Curley Law Jeffrey Curley was a beloved 10-year-old Cambridge boy who was kidnapped, raped and murdered in 1997. In the aftermath of Jeffrey's death, his parents, Barbara and Robert Curley, secured passage of a law, Chapter 377 of the Acts of 2000, that requires the commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to make the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's "Knowing My Rules for Safety" poster available to all elementary schools in the Commonwealth and promote the poster's display. Information about the Governor's Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Through her leadership as the chair of the Governor's Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence and a named member of the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Task Force, the Lieutenant Governor is committed to identifying opportunities to increase awareness and education for parents, caregivers, communities, educators and children about sexual abuse prevention. Second Step Child Protection Unit Information Sessions As announced earlier this month, in partnership with ESE, the Children's Trust is introducing the Committee for Children's new Second Step Child Protection Unit. The Second Step Curriculum integrates the Committee for Children's Talking about Touching sexual abuse prevention and bullying prevention curricula and includes organizational policies and procedures, staff training, highly engaging and interactive student lessons, and information for families. The Children's Trust is offering workshops on Second Step, and registration and more information is available online. ###



Last Updated: April 28, 2016



 
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