Comprehensive Child Safety Through Prevention Education Programs

The Monique Burr Foundation for Children (MBF) provides evidence-based and evidence-informed prevention education programs to educate and protect children and teens from all types of bullying, abuse, and other types of victimization. Research indicates that 95% of child sexual abuse is preventable through education. MBF programs introduce tools like the MBF Healthy Relationships Wheels, which help teens understand healthy relationships by focusing on positive behaviors such as respect, kindness, trust, and good communication, signaled by "Green Flags."

The Monique Burr Foundation for Children (MBF)

Founded in 1997 by Edward E. Burr, the Monique Burr Foundation for Children (MBF) is dedicated to protecting children from maltreatment and exploitation. The organization collaborates with partner organizations and engages communities in child safety initiatives through community awareness efforts and resources. MBF provides research-based, comprehensive, developmentally appropriate programs to schools and other youth-serving organizations, to educate and empower students (grades K - 12), parents, teachers and staff, with strategies to better protect children and teens from various types of child victimization. Prevention education is the exclusive focus.

Core Programs Offered by MBF

MBF offers several prevention education programs, each tailored to specific age groups and needs:

MBF Child Safety Matters® - Pre-K: This is an introductory personal safety program for preschool children, ages 4 - 5. The curriculum was created and reviewed by child psychologists and early childhood educators and meets many Pre-K instructional and health education standards. The lessons are age- and developmentally appropriate and include fun and engaging activities for children, as well as additional optional activities that can be used for reinforcement of the lesson content. Topics covered include general safety and prevention, the 5 Safety Rules, social-emotional learning skills, healthy relationships, safe and unsafe touches, personal space, bullying (being kind), and digital safety and citizenship.
MBF Child Safety Matters® (K-5): This comprehensive curriculum for elementary school students in grades K-5 educates and empowers children and all relevant adults with information and strategies to prevent, recognize, and respond appropriately to bullying, cyberbullying, all types of abuse, and digital abuse dangers. Students will have increased knowledge about various types of abuse and victimization. Students will recognize and respond appropriately to Red Flags and unsafe situations. Students will demonstrate an increase in skilled response to unsafe situations using 5 Safety Rules. Students will identify Safe Adults and demonstrate good communication skills with Safe Adults and demonstrate increased communication with parents/guardians regarding their safety. Topics covered include general safety and prevention, the 5 Safety Rules, social-emotional learning skills, healthy relationships, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, neglect, bullying and cyberbullying, digital abuse and other digital dangers, and digital safety and citizenship.

Read also: A Deep Dive into NAEPP
MBF Teen Safety Matters® (6-12): This prevention education program is designed for middle school students in grades 6-8 and high-school students in grades 9-12. It educates and empowers teens with information and strategies to prevent, recognize, and respond appropriately to bullying, cyberbullying, all types of abuse, relationship abuse, digital dangers, exploitation, and human trafficking. Teen Safety Matters builds upon the core lessons in Child Safety Matters to provide relevant and developmentally appropriate information for the challenges teenagers face. Topics for grades 6th-8th include general safety and prevention, the 5 Safety Rules, social-emotional learning skills, healthy relationships, physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, sexual assault, sexual exploitation/sex trafficking and sexting / sextortion, bullying and cyberbullying, and digital abuse and other digital dangers. Topics for grades 9th-12th include general safety and prevention, the 5 Safety Rules, social-emotional learning skills, healthy relationships, relationship, physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, sexual assault, sexual exploitation/sex trafficking and sexting / sextortion, bullying and cyberbullying, digital abuse and other digital dangers, and mental health wellness and safety.
MBF Mental Health Matters®: This comprehensive prevention curriculum empowers children to understand, identify, and respond to their own and others' mental health risks. Topics covered include using the 5 safety rules to avoid peer pressure and make healthy choices, types of drug abuse, coping skills, signs of mental illness, limiting time on social media, setting boundaries, and how to get help. These lessons are divided into K-2nd, 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, and 9th-12th grade levels.
Happy Bear: This is a 25-30 minute skit for K-2nd grade students using a facilitator and a costumed staff member. The skit is interactive and encourages learning through interaction and visual entertainment. Children help the facilitator teach Happy Bear about welcome and unwelcome touches.

Key Components and Strategies

Several key components and strategies are integrated into MBF Prevention Education Programs:

The 5 Safety Rules

The MBF 5 Safety Rules are a cornerstone of the prevention education programs. These rules provide children and teens with practical steps they can take to protect themselves in various situations. All grade levels in the MBF Prevention Education Programs cover similar topics. Content is presented in an age and developmentally appropriate way for each grade level. If you are ever hurt, you are never to blame, and you should never be ashamed to tell.

Healthy Relationships

MBF programs emphasize the importance of healthy relationships and provide tools to help children and teens identify and build these relationships. The MBF Healthy Relationships Wheels is a valuable tool that helps teens understand what healthy relationships look like. The programs focus on Green Flags-positive behaviors like respect, kindness, trust, and good communication. Green Flags signal that a relationship is safe and supportive.

Digital Safety

Given the increasing prevalence of technology in young people's lives, MBF programs address digital safety and citizenship. These programs educate children and teens about the risks of cyberbullying, digital abuse, and other digital dangers.

Trauma-Informed Approach

MBF Prevention Education Programs are evidence-based and trauma-informed, meaning they are designed to be sensitive to the needs of children and teens who may have experienced trauma.

Implementation and Training

The Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester (CACGROC) uses the MBF Prevention Education Programs, including MBF Child Safety Matters® and MBF Teen Safety Matters®. The CAC partners with individual schools or districts to provide the Monique Burr Foundation for Children (MBF) Child/Teen Safety Matters curricula directly to students in Pre-K-12th grade classrooms. School staff are trained in the MBF Prevention Education Curriculum for implementation. Although training is not technically required, the expectation is that prior to implementing the classroom lessons, anyone who will be facilitating lesssons will complete the Facilitator Training. Facilitators typically have a 4-year degree in a human service or education field and at least one year of experience working with children, or a combination of education and experience.

Additional Training Programs

CACGROC also offers several training programs for staff, parents, and caregivers:

Children's Advocacy and Responding to Child Abuse Situations: This training is for staff who work with children and teaches attendees about the CAC, abuse statistics, the investigation process, reporting, how to handle a disclosure, and noticing signs of abuse.
Parent Training: Environmental Safety and Signs of Abuse: This training is for parents and caregivers and covers online safety, signs of abuse, bullying, environmental safety in the home, typical and atypical sexual behaviors, how to report suspected abuse, and how to handle when a child discloses.
Less is More: This helps school staff understand trauma, how trauma affects behavior, how to look for indicators that something may be going on with a student, and how to be a safe space to allow students to share. The training also instructs staff on how to effectively partner with CACGROC during their response to a situation.
Circles of Safety: Understanding and Responding to Warning Signs of Problematic Sexual Behaviors in Children: This training helps participants determine when a child’s sexual behaviors are concerning and how to create safer environments.
NYS Mandated Reporter Training: CACGROC is authorized to provide the new mandatory training for all mandated reporters in NYS. The training is comprehensive and includes interactive learning exercises that allow participants to test their knowledge using case examples.
Child Advocacy Center (CAC) 101: A basic introduction to the CAC as a community resource, covering services provided and how the CAC can be a resource.
ACEs: An Introduction to Adverse Childhood Experiences: This introductory course looks at the realm of ACEs through a trauma-informed lens and discusses their effects on children and adults including brain development, and social, mental, and emotional impacts. The course discusses Protective Factors that can help prevent ACEs and different strategies that can help build resilience to mitigate the impacts of ACEs.

Addressing Critical Issues

MBF Prevention Education Programs address a range of critical issues affecting children and teens:

Bullying and Cyberbullying

Bullying, including cyberbullying, is a significant concern for young people. MBF programs educate children and teens about the different forms of bullying, the impact of bullying, and strategies for preventing and responding to bullying. 160,000 students stay home from school every day for fear of being bullied.

Child Trafficking

MBF programs address human trafficking awareness in the classroom through age-appropriate lessons that incorporate the MBF 5 Safety Rules to help students understand how to stay safe from both sex and labor trafficking. These modules are designed to empower students and support prevention efforts.

Digital Dangers

MBF programs address digital dangers, including the creation and dissemination of deepfake nudes. Research shows that 1 in 8 teens knows someone targeted by deepfake nudes, and 1 in 17 has been a direct victim. MBF believes that technology built with the purpose of creating nonconsensual intimate imagery should not exist.

Familial Trafficking

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sees cases where children live at home, attend school, and are trafficked by family members; a form of exploitation called familial trafficking. These cases are hard to identify as children may feel conflicted about speaking up. Awareness is prevention. By learning the signs and talking openly about all forms of trafficking, we can better protect children everywhere.

Creating Safer Communities

MBF Prevention Education Programs play a vital role in creating safer communities for children and teens. By educating and empowering children, teens, and adults with the knowledge and skills they need to prevent, recognize, and respond to various forms of victimization, MBF is helping to build a brighter, safer future for all. Schools can help prevent abuse and empower children to speak up if they encounter any concerning situations by promoting open dialogue and providing age-appropriate information.

Strong, connected communities are one of the best defenses against human trafficking and exploitation. Reach out. Talk. Learn the signs. Share resources. You don’t need to be an expert to make a difference - you just need to care.

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