In the Blue : August 2016 News & Updates
Back to School Safety Tips

Back to school is here! So, once again, school safety becomes a priority. We want to create the best possible learning environment for our children, helping them to grow into happy and productive adults. 

On average in the US, children will spend anywhere from 900 to 1,000 hours in school per year. Therefore, as teachers, coaches, parents, care givers, and concerned community members, we can all help to prevent violence against children during or after school hours. We can observe, talk to, and educate children and other adults, so that we can play an active role in keeping kids safe.

Being an observant member of a child's life is proven to prevent child abuse. Observe not only the behavior of the child, but the behavior of other children and adults in that child's life. Is the child displaying any behavior changes (fear, anxiety, depression, aggression, etc.) or any sexualized behavior that's inappropriate for that child's age? Though there are no universal signs of an abuser (abusers cut across all demographics), we do know based on research that 90% of child sexual abuse victims know their abuser. That means abusers can be family members, friends, neighbors, clergy, teachers, and more. Show up unexpectedly at places where you know your child is, such as a sports event, music lesson, day care or play date. Doing so will send the message that you are involved in the child's life.

It's also important to talk openly to the child and the people in the child's life about child protection policies and procedures. This includes asking detailed questions about where the child is going to be and who will be with them. More than 80% of child abuse cases occur in one-on-one isolated situations, so choose group situations when possible. Be direct with other adults and explain that you and the child are educated on child sexual abuse, and yes - be that direct.

Luckily, we can educate children and adults on how to prevent child sexual abuse. First, teach children the anatomically correct names of their body parts (penis, vagina, buttocks, and breasts). These are the parts of the body covered by a bathing suit and no one else should touch those parts. If someone does touch a child inappropriately or in any way that makes the child feel uncomfortable or unsafe then they can use the No, Go, Tell Plan. Say "NO" loudly and clearly. GO away from that person/situation. Then TELL a trusted adult what happened and keep telling until the touching stops.

Finally, some adults in a child's life are mandatory reporters, meaning that they have a legal responsibility to report any suspicion of abuse or neglect. Examples include teachers, doctors, nurses, coaches, and clergy members. Failure to report a suspicion of abuse is a crime and could lead to legal ramifications. For a complete list of mandatory reporters, click HERE.

Regardless of whether you are a mandatory reporter or not, we all have a moral obligation to keep children in our community safe. If you would like to learn more about Blue Sky Bridge's Prevention Programs, please visit our website.

By Faith Motter, Director of Development & Communication
We have a winner!

Congratulations to ticket number 251- the winner of Desert Trip! We hope you enjoy your trip of a lifetime.

Thank you to all who participated in this exciting event, and thank you to Raffleometer for donating such an incredible gift.

We hope that this is one of many raffles in which we will benefit from through Raffleometer. To learn more, please visit their website. 
Meet our newest team member: 
Trish Wood, Prevention Associate

Trish Wood has been working in the areas of violence prevention, cause marketing and community outreach for most of her career.

She has held a variety of paid and volunteer positions around the issues of child sexual assault, desegregation, bilingual education and other political and social issues. Most recently, Trish worked at LEVI (Longmont Ending Violence Initiative) where she was responsible for domestic violence prevention/education to various community groups and organizations.  She also provided referrals and support to domestic violence victims and their families, friends and co-workers.  

Trish has been a member of the Blue Sky Bridge Education Committee for seven years and helped initiate the collaborative grant with Blue Sky Bridge to develop Project Pinwheel, a child sexual abuse awareness project that targets the Longmont community.  Trish holds a Masters in Journalism from the University of Colorado and lives in Boulder with her husband, two sons and sweet dog, Cime ("Chee-may"). She is excited to be part of the Blue Sky Bridge team and looks forward to the opportunity to feed both her passion for prevention and love of children.
Blue Sky Bridge | 303-444-1388 | info@blueskybridge.org  | blueskybridge.org
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