New Training for Safeguarding Children from Sexual Abuse
Canadian Centre for Child Protection marks Universal Children’s Day with free training
For Immediate Release
Winnipeg, MB: On November 20, Universal Children’s Day, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P) is making training for protecting children from child sexual abuse as accessible as it has ever been with two new, free resources. C3P is launching:
- Downloadable lesson sheets for teachers to utilize in classrooms K–9
- A 23-minute online video (available now) for daycares, youth groups, sport organizations and all communities engaging with kids, as well as families
Child sexual abuse is a pervasive problem in Canada. It crosses all ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds — 1 in 10 children have experienced sexual abuse before they turned 18 years old. We must hold all adults to higher standards of expectations for how they understand grooming and abuse, and their responsibility in protecting children.
“In our society, children have the right to be safe from abuse, yet they do not always know what constitutes abuse. We must provide them with a measure for what is safe and what is not, and how to tell someone about what is happening. We have to remember that not all children have access to a safe home, and adults who will teach them personal safety,” explains Noni Classen, Director of Education at C3P. “It’s our responsibility to have ongoing conversations with children in schools and group settings — our lessons make this possible!”
The 23-minute introductory training will take you through an introduction on what you need to know when it comes to safeguarding the children in your lives, covering areas such as:
- What YOU can do in your role to help safeguard children from sexual abuse
- High risk behavior and situations for abuse
- Understanding child sexual abuse and disclosure
“By offering this training for free, we’re removing barriers that prevent adults from accessing and learning about reporting child victimization,” says Classen. “We have to talk about it. We have to be aware of the risks and put proactive measures in place to disrupt grooming, and prevent the abuse of children in our communities.”