Parents are one of the most important forces for bringing CSA prevention education to students. Schools are encouraged but not yet required to provide prevention instruction to students, which means parent voices matter. This section provides tools to help you advocate effectively, start conversations with school leaders, and engage your community.

How to Advocate for CSA Prevention in Your School

Why prevention education matters

Nationally, 1 in 10 children will experience sexual abuse before age 18. In Utah, that number is 1 in 7. Most will never tell an adult. Prevention education gives children the skills to recognize unsafe situations, set boundaries, and speak up, and research shows it works. The funding and programming are already in place. What most schools need is a parent community that understands this education is available, important, and worth asking for.

To learn more about prevention education in Utah, visit the Preventing Child Sexual Abuse toolkit section.

What your school can do to keep students safe

Utah schools have three pathways to provide prevention education to students at little or no cost:

• Partner with Prevent Child Abuse Utah (PCAU), the state-contracted provider, for free classroom instruction with no application required

• Apply for a USBE grant (up to $500,000 available statewide annually) to bring in another approved provider

• Use USBE grant funds to train existing school staff to deliver approved lessons directly (select prevention providers offer train-the-trainer programs)

Cost is not a barrier. The resources exist. Schools simply need to use them.

As an advocate, you can help your school:

• Choose an approved program

• Apply for grant funding

• Support staff training

• Offer parent education

• Create safer policies

How to Start the Conversation

First, educate yourself on school-based CSA prevention education in Utah so you are comfortable with school’s legal requirements and options for student education.

• Utah CSA Prevention Education (The Policy Project)

• Preventing Child Sexual Abuse (The Policy Project)

Then, reach out to your school with a supportive, collaborative tone. Good contacts include your principal, school counselor, school nurse, school community council (SCC), or PTA leadership.

A simple message that works:

"I want to support our school in using available state funding to provide safety education for students this year. I'd love to help however I can."

Get involved

School-level groups have real influence over what gets included in school plans and budgets. Consider:

• Joining your School Community Council (SCC) and requesting that CSA prevention be included in the school improvement plan

• Raising the topic at a PTA or parent-teacher group meeting

• Attending parent education sessions your school is required to offer and encouraging other families to participate

Spread the word

One of the most effective things parents can do is normalize conversations about child safety in their communities. Saprea offers free community education classes that are easy to schedule for a PTA night, neighborhood group, or faith community gathering. You can also become a trained Saprea Community Educator to lead these conversations yourself.

• Community Education Classes (Saprea)

Stay involved

Prevention education does not happen after one conversation. Following up every few months keeps the momentum going. A few simple questions to ask your school:

• Has the school applied for the USBE grant for CSA prevention education?

• Which provider or program did the school select?

• When are parent education sessions scheduled?

• How is staff training progressing?

Important Information

• Advocating for Prevention Education in Schools (The Policy Project)

• 6 Questions Every Parent Should Ask Their School About CSA Prevention (The Policy Project)

• How to Organize a Community Conversation About CSA Prevention (The Policy Project)

• Conversation Guide: Child Sexual Abuse in Utah (Living Room Conversations)

• CSA Prevention FAQ for Parents and Families (The Policy Project)

• USBE-Approved Providers and Instructional Materials (Utah State Board of Education)

• USBE Grant Funding Information (The Policy Project)

• Prevention Strategies: Talk, Educate, Monitor, Support (Saprea)

• Prevent Child Abuse Utah School Programs (PCAU)

• DCFS Child Abuse Hotline: 1-855-323-3237

• Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453