As Utahns, we value the health and safety of our families—especially our children. But when one in seven of our children is deeply harmed by child sexual abuse, it is our duty as adults to step in. Child sexual abuse casts a dark shadow over the lives of its survivors, leading to negative outcomes that persist into adulthood.

We have the power to prevent child sexual abuse.

The goal of The Safe Child Project is to expand child sexual abuse prevention education in Utah—a necessary step in keeping our children safe and allowing them to reach their full potential physically, mentally, and emotionally.

THE PROBLEM

Child sexual abuse is a more significant problem than many realize. One in seven Utah children experiences sexual abuse before the age of 18, with children ages seven to 13 being the most vulnerable.

The Safe Child Project aims to shed light on this issue and emphasize the need for preventive measures, as child sexual abuse is a root cause of downstream societal problems like suicide, incarceration, high school dropout rates, substance abuse, mental and physical health challenges, unhealthy relationships, and employment difficulties. It is estimated the impacts of child sexual abuse cost the state of Utah $1 billion annually.

*View data sources here.

SENATE BILL 205, “CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION AMENDMENTS” PASSED!

Senate Bill 205, “Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Amendments” passed unanimously in the Utah Legislature! This bill will impact thousands of Utah children and families for generations to come. Thank you to all of the legislators, partner organizations, and community members who made this historic investment in Utah’s children a success! Every vote cast, postcard written, story shared made this change possible.

What does SB 205 do?

+ Appropriates $1.5 million in ongoing funding for prevention education in Utah elementary classrooms

+ Creates a state contract with a primary prevention education provider responsible for state-wide outreach, tracking, and reporting

+ Provides flexibility and funding for schools using other approved providers

+ Further ensures that prevention curriculum is age appropriate

What’s next?

As with many government programs, the implementation of what is outlined in S.B. 205 won’t be immediate — it’s likely that schools will not be able to access the ongoing funding until the start of 2025. We will give you more information about next steps as we receive it.

Utah’s 2014 code remains in place and ensures prevention education is appropriate and effective:

  • Parents’ rights are respected. They can preview curriculum, be present during classroom instruction, or excuse children from instruction.

  • School personnel receive training on child sexual abuse prevention.

  • Curriculum must receive approval from the Utah State Board of Education (USBE).

For a prevention curriculum to be approved by USBE, it must address:

  • Being safe and self-aware in various situations

  • Recognizing warning signs of sexual abuse

  • Using technology safely

  • Disclosing to trusted adults when sexual abuse is suspected

Learn more about Prevent Child Abuse Utah's USBE-approved curriculum here.

UTAH’S STRONG FOUNDATION

Your story is powerful. When survivors speak, people listen and change follows. A collection of first-hand experiences can encourage Utah lawmakers to mandate abuse prevention education in schools. If you would like to be part of that process, we would love to hear from you.

SHARE YOUR STORY

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Together, we can engage all of Utah in the movement to help our kids. There are many ways you can help!

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Every dollar makes a difference in the fight to protect the rising generation.

Read and share our digestible one-page overview of The Safe Child Project.

FAQs

  • Well-designed programs focus on age-appropriate content, minimizing the risk of anxiety while providing children with tools to protect themselves. A review of literature reveals that false allegations of sexual abuse among children are very uncommon, and offering prevention education does not result in an increase in false reporting.

  • Prevent Child Abuse Utah (PCAU), Saprea, and the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault provide support for survivors and offer tools for child sexual abuse prevention.

  • Similar to substance-use prevention or bullying prevention, classroom abuse prevention programs ensure the highest number of Utah kids have the tools needed to stay safe. When teaching prevention strategies, connecting with a trusted adult—including parents and teachers—is the key to keeping a child safe.

  • Educators from USBE-approved organizations like, PCAU and 3Strands, typically visit schools to deliver the curriculum. Schools can also assign trained professionals, like counselors, social workers, and therapists, to present the curriculum, reducing the burden on teachers.

  • Contact law enforcement or the Utah Division of Child and Family Services at 1-855-323-3237 immediately to report your concerns.

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Together we can protect our children and prevent child abuse.