School Counselors Get Training on Child Abuse, Neglect

Several Cherokee County elementary school counselors were recently educated in new, updated training on national child abuse and neglect prevention standards. 

The counselors from the Cherokee County School District participated in Speak Up Be Safe, the updated version of the Good Touch, Bad Touch program rolled out by Childhelp. 

Geared towards students in first through sixth grades, Speak Up Be Safe offers a "21st-century approach to the prevention of abuse by utilizing web-based tools, curriculum on Internet safety skills and cyber-bullying and a redirected focus on adult responsibility and skill building," the school district said in a news release.  

"I am really excited about this new program, it’s very pertinent to today’s issues,” said Arnold Mill Elementary Counselor Bob Jordan. "I cannot wait to get started using it." 

According to Childhelp, key components the Speak Up Be Safe program include:

• Employing a school-based program as the most effective avenue to reach the majority of the adults in a child's life and the community at large;
• Increasing awareness of safety issues and a greater knowledge of child abuse and neglect for children who participate in the program;
• Increasing school personnel’s understanding of how abuse affects child development, the abuse disclosure process and mandatory reporting rules;
• Providing parents and caregivers access to support services and organizations that teach nonviolent responses to stress or conflict; and,
• Increasing public awareness of child safety and abuse issues as a benefit to the entire community.

"Speak Up, Be Safe will be helpful across all grade levels in helping children know how to take care of themselves," said Brenda Hall, counselor at Mountain Road Elementary." Digital citizenship and safety is one component of the program that I am excited about. I hope it will help children to understand how the Internet can be a place for learning, but also a place where they need to be wary of danger."

Speak Up Be Safe was created in partnership with development teams at Arizona State University and tested in Florida schools. Parents can visit the parent tab on Speak Up Be Safe's website to learn more information. 

Don't miss any news from Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch! Subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here. Also, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!