The Parenting Safe Children workshop was identified as educational resource to meet the need in both Richmond County, and Canso and surrounding areas which share historical and ongoing cases of sexual assault perpetrated by a family member. Recently, Consent Training was offered by Faye Fraser, Violence Prevention Educator with the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre Sexual Assault Services Association. A need was identified to build and extend parenting information beyond school curriculum. It was hopeful this workshop would bridge the gap between parents and youth and assist parents in starting these sometimes-difficult conversations at earlier ages (pre-school).
Approach
The workshop and resources were developed by Feather Berkower, Child Sexual Assault Prevention Educator & Author. For further information www.ParentingSafeChildren.com
The Parenting Safe Children program believes that adults are responsible for protecting children from sexual assault and incest. Children can learn protection skills, and it’s important that they do, however, ultimately it is up to adults to protect children, not for children to have to protect themselves. Feather Berkower’s (Child Sexual Assault Prevention Educator & Author) goal is to give adults accurate information about child sexual assault and incest so they can prevent, recognize and act responsibly if they witness it.
Learning Outcomes
The following are the learning outcomes and topics covered in the workshop:
§ What makes children and their families vulnerable to sexual assault
§ Grooming behaviors that precede sexual assault
§ Language to speak with your children about sex and sexual development
§ Language to speak with your children’s teachers, coaches, nannies, family members, faith leaders and other parents about body safety
§ Body-safety rules every child should know to decrease vulnerability
§ Why forcing your child to hug a grandparent or loved one could make them more vulnerable to sexual assault in the future
§ How to build a Prevention Team™ of caregivers
Results and Feedback
The Circles of Support and Change Project Team members partnered with Faye Fraser to offer the Parenting Safe Children workshop to three communities, two in Richmond County and one for Canso. There were also additional workshops offered and completed virtually for service providers and community.
Consensus from participant feedback indicated participants felt very well informed and gained new knowledge around Sexual Assault Prevention after this workshop. The following are some comments and questions from parents and/or service providers.
As parents and community members, can we reduce harm by exploring the willingness to feel uncomfortable in order to speak out?
Focus on “Secrets vs Surprises” and body safety rules
The statistics that “Juveniles represent up to 50% of all offenders” provided lots of questions about older kids supervising younger kids and younger babysitting which happens a lot in rural communities due to lack of qualified childcare providers and no daycares within the areas as well as aging family members. NOTE: It would be remiss if it wasn’t mentioned that registration age of St. Johns Ambulance Babysitters Course is now available at Grade 6. Although beneficial, babysitting courses focus on CPR and First Aid only.
Any age should have body autonomy and age of consent.
Follow up Activities
The following are some suggestions for follow-up to this learning experience.
- Order Sexual Violence Prevention Books to circulate within the Circles of Support and Change Communities
- Purchase Rack Cards: ‘Tips for talking with other parents about Body Safety Rules and Prevention Team’ to circulate within the Circles of Support and Change Communities
- Since the workshop, resources were shared within Richmond County residents on the topics of on-line video games and online safety.
- Follow up with St. John Ambulance around including new content around keeping children safe from sexual violence.
- Ask local schools if they demonstrate and document child sexual abuse prevention programs, such as child sexual abuse prevention policies and prevention plans in school improvement plans?
- Also, do schools include sexual assault prevention question in their hiring interviews for new and seasoned faculty?
- Participants received a certificate of completion and an information package to summarize the course.