Pub. 4 2014-2015 Issue 1

24 U APCS recently met with Carrie Jensen, Associate Director of Prevent Child Abuse Utah, and Jennifer Johnson, member of the Utah State Board of Education,* to discuss the recently passed Child Sexual Abuse Prevention law, House Bill 286, and what it will mean for teachers, educators and students across the state. A huge thank you goes out to bill sponsors Representative Angela Romero and Senator Stuart Adams for their persistence through all kinds of complaints and concerns. The bill goes into effect next year. What is House Bill 286? Carrie: The bill is called Child Sexual Abuse Prevention. It requires schools to provide teachers and parents with child sexual abuse training, to give them the information they need to recognize abuse and know what to do to help support a child that might be being abused. Although not required, it also provides schools optional training for their parents and students, which would help them under- stand it themselves and how to get help if they need it. Jennifer: The bill is unique in many aspects. It was sponsored by a Democrat and co-sponsored by a Repub- lican. It shows bipartisan politics for something that is really great. It calls for the State Board of Education and the Department of Human Services to collaborate together to approve training to be taught in the schools. What are some key elements that you’re excited have been put into place now because of this bill? Jennifer: I think the most powerful part of the whole bill is the training for educators and parents. A lot of times the training focuses on the students, and it’s really important for students to be able to have training, but the adults are truly the individuals responsible for the safety of children. Some of the opponents say we’re asking teachers for just one more thing, but all adults, including teachers, already are required to be able to identify and report signs of abuse. This legislation supports the educator in the classroom, out on the recess field, or at a sporting event, to be able to protect children. How common is sexual abuse? Jennifer: I think a lot of people think that this only hap- pens to poor kids, to non-white children, to kids in certain types of neighborhoods, or only to girls, and that’s simply not true. Nationally, one in four females and one in six males under the age of 18 have been sexually abused. The numbers are stunning. Tell us about the mandatory training the bill requires from schools. Jennifer: There are two types of training that are manda- tory. One type is that all educators are mandated to get this training every year. The second type is that parents are at least offered the training. All districts and charters must conduct these trainings. And, there is evidence that train- ing educators and parents does help prevent child sexual abuse. HB 286 - Child Sexual Abuse Prevention: What it Means for Educators A Roundtable Discussion