Erin's Law: Recommended Curriculums
You may have followed the passage of Senate Bill 288 (“Erin’s Law”). The 134th General Assembly passed Erin’s Law, effective April 4, 2023. This bill included language which requires health education instruction in child sexual abuse and sexual violence prevention. The bill requires schools to begin this instruction in the 2023-2024 school year. At the Montgomery County Prevention Coalition, we recognize that these new curriculum requirements can be overwhelming and complicated. We hope to support you in meeting these new requirements and provide no or low-cost options to implement these crucial changes in your school.
Many schools in our area are already implementing this fantastic work, and we thank you for that! You have understood the importance of Erin’s Law before it was a requirement. If you already offer curriculums that meet this requirement, please let us know so we can acknowledge and celebrate you!
What is Erin’s Law?
Erin Merryn, childhood sexual assault survivor, author, speaker, and activist, is the driving force and the namesake for Erin’s Law. Erin is the founder and President of Erin’s Law, registered with the State of Illinois and the IRS as a 501 (c)(4) non-profit social welfare organization. Erin’s Law requires all public schools to implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program, which includes age-appropriate programming for students preK - 12th grade, school personnel, parents, and guardians.
Evidence-Based curriculums that cover all requirements laid out by Erin’s Law:
I Can Tell (Grades Pre K-6)
A school and community-based program for Pre K thru 6th graders, aimed at reducing child sexual abuse. This free 60-minute program breaks down what personal space means, the difference between good and bad secrets, empowering them to tell an adult if they are unsafe, and reducing shame surrounding the secrecy of abuse.
Provider: Family Services Association
Contact: 937-222-9481 or email information@fsadayton.org
Stewards of Children (Teachers & Staff)
Stewards of Children® is an evidence-informed, award-winning training that teaches adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. Through interviews with child sexual abuse survivors, experts, and treatment providers, Stewards of Children® teaches adults practical actions they can take to reduce instances of child sexual abuse in their organizations, families, and communities.
Provider: Montgomery County ADAMHS Board
Contact: Becky Ketron, bketron@mcadamhs.org or 937-443-0416
Safe Dates (Grades 6-12)
Safe Dates is a school-based prevention program for middle and high school students designed to stop or prevent the initiation of dating violence victimization and perpetration, including the psychological, physical, and sexual abuse that may occur between youths involved in a dating relationship. The program goals are to change adolescent norms on dating violence and gender-roles, improve conflict resolution skills for dating relationships, promote victims’ and perpetrators’ beliefs in the need for help and awareness of community resources for dating violence, encourage help-seeking by victims and those who commit crimes against them, and develop peer help-giving skills.
Provider: YWCA Dayton
Contact: John Rogers, III, jrogers@ywcadayton.org, 937-461-5550
Sexual Violence Prevention Program (Grades 6-12)
The Youth Sexual Violence Prevention Program is facilitated within area middle schools, high schools, colleges/universities, and community programs with the goal of helping participants understand and identify sexual violence; define consent and boundaries; and understand bystander invention.
Provider: YWCA Dayton
Contact: John Rogers, III, jrogers@ywcadayton.org, 937-461-5550
Other programs recommended through the Ohio Department of Education can be found here.
Complementary evidence-based and evidence-informed programs that cover at least some requirements laid out by Erin’s Law:
Power Through Choices
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Power Through Choices: My Life, My Choices (4th Edition) is a 10-session evidence-based prevention curriculum specifically designed for adolescents ages 13–18 in systems of care. Power Through Choices is the only sexual health program designed with and for youth in foster care and other out of home care. Power Through Choices was the first sexuality education curriculum developed for youth who are involved in a child welfare or juvenile justice system to help them prevent pregnancy, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Provider: Healthy Teen Network (National Program)
To inquire about future training dates or the Training of Facilitators, visit: Learn - Healthy Teen Network.
Too Good for Violence (Grades 1-8)
Too Good for Drugs & Violence works to increase youth’s ability to navigate the challenges of social and academic pressures like making responsible decisions, avoiding substance use and other risky behaviors, managing stress, and anger, reflecting on personal relationships, and resolving conflict peacefully. Bullying, domestic violence, and verbal and other forms of violence are strongly related to inadequate social competency, poor school performance, mental illness, and other negative factors that can hinder positive personal and social development. This program works to increase the participant’s ability to resolve interpersonal conflicts without the use of violence or drugs.
Provider: Montgomery County Educational Services Center
Contact: Amy Claywell, amy.claywell@mcesc.org
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (National Program)
The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) is a school-wide, evidence-based comprehensive framework focused on systemic change to create a safe and positive school climate. The goals of the OBPP are to:
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reduce existing bullying problems among students
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prevent new bullying problems
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achieve better peer relations
Contact: To find a local certified trainer, please visit this link: Ohio.pdf (clemson.edu)
Visible and Resilient in Community and Self (Grades 7-12, school staff, community members)
The Visible & Resilient in Community and Self program is a youth-informed, sexual orientation and gender identity expression (SOGIE) inclusive education program working to increase health equity for LGBTQ+ youth. With LGBTQ+ youth remaining disproportionally and statistically high for suicide to completion and other health disparities, V&R increases community, personal agency, and connection to resources. V&R provides these evidence-informed prevention education services in part or whole depending on identified need
curriculum taught in schools and community (virtual & in-person), drop-in gatherings, including GSA/Diversity Club supports, for youth in schools and in community (virtual & in-person), collaborative programs with school and community partners (virtual & in-person), workshops, training, professional development (virtual & in-person), scholarly supports and other resources for policy and programming
Provider: Public Health Dayton Montgomery County
Contact: Richelle Frabotta, rfrabotta@phdmc.org
Risky Business (Ages 12 to 24)
Risky Business (RB) is a six-lesson evidenced based curriculum, which focuses on increasing the perception of harm associated with risky behaviors (violence, gambling, sexual behavior, and the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs) and supporting protective factors related to good decision making. The Risky Business curriculum was developed by the Substance Abuse Resources and Disability Issues (SARDI) Program at the Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University for use with juvenile-justice involved youth. The six lessons include: Decision Making, Violence Prevention, Problem Gambling Prevention, Sexual Risk Behavior, Myths about ATOD and Substance Abuse Prevention. Each lesson focuses on reducing incidences of problem behavior as the primary concern and utilizes gambling prevention examples whenever possible, even when the topic is about something other than gambling.
Provider: Public Health Dayton Montgomery County
Contact: Asia Williams, awilliams@phdmc.org
Second Step (Grades 1-8)
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The Second Step Program teaches skills for social and academic success. Lessons are aligned with the common core standards of the Ohio Department of Education. It is an evidenced based best practice Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum from the Committee for Children currently being taught in 1st thru 8th grade classrooms. Services are delivered during classroom time to the whole class. Some lessons cover: Mindset & Goals, Recognizing Bullying and Harassment, Thoughts, Emotions & Decisions, Managing Relationships and Conflict, Problem Solving, and Empathy and Kindness.
Provider: Samaritan Behavioral Health
Contact: Nancy Bleil, nebleil@premierhealth.com, 937-689-9228
Girl’s Lead (Ages 10-15)
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Girls LEAD! focuses on social-emotional learning and bullying prevention; health & wellness; and leadership and life skills for girls between
the ages of 11-18 by offering an in-school, after-school, and summer camp delivery of curriculum and leadership development. Girls LEAD! provides a safe space for girls to focus on their issues with the support of peers, coaches, and mentors to guide them through developmental stages. With the impact of social media, girls between the "tween" and teenage years more severely deal with issues of self-esteem, peer pressure, bullying, and cyber-bullying in their schools and communities where they live.
Provider: YWCA Dayton
Contact: John Rogers III, jrogers@ywcadayton.org, 937-461-5550
AMEND Together (Males in grades 5-9)
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AMEND Together provides a plan to engage and educate male influencers to build a movement of men dedicated to ending violence against women and girls. We Challenge the status quo, Cultivate healthy masculinity, and Change the violent culture against women that exists and as a result change the future for women and girls. Paramount to the AMEND Together initiative is its AMEND Together Club initiative—a program that not only raises awareness, but also creates real, measurable change by working with young men and boys to redefine a culture that support violence against women and girls.
Provider: YWCA Dayton
Contact: John Rogers III, jrogers@ywcadayton.org, 937-461-5550
In Their Shoes (Grades 7-12)
In Their Shoes is an experiential learning opportunity regarding teen dating violence. Participants become one of six characters based on the experiences of real teens including sexting, pregnancy, homophobia, and stalking. They make choices about their relationship and move through the scenario by reading about interactions with their dating partner, family, friends, counselors, police, and others.
Provider: YWCA Dayton
Contact: John Rogers III, jrogers@ywcadayton.org, 937-461-5550
MBF Child Safety Matters® (Grades K-5)
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CSM is a comprehensive, evidence-based curriculum for elementary school students. The program 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. It is presented in two comprehensive lessons ranging from 35-55 minutes (or in four shorter lessons) by facilitators in classrooms.
Provider: CARE House (Montgomery County's child advocacy center) in partnership with Monique Burr Foundation
Contact: Amy Van Verth, vanvertha@childrensdayton.org or 513-410-1239
MBF Teen Safety Matters® (Grades 6-12)
TSM is a comprehensive, evidence-informed prevention education program for middle and high-school students. The program educates and empowers teens and all relevant adults 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. These sessions consist of two 55-minute lessons (or four shorter lessons) presented to students in individual classrooms.
Provider: CARE House (Montgomery County's child advocacy center) in partnership with Monique Burr Foundation
Contact: Amy Van Verth, vanvertha@childrensdayton.org or 513-410-1239
Both CSM and TSM curricula let trained facilitators present in classrooms using turnkey scripts along with engaging, interactive PowerPoints that include lecture, group discussion, skills-practice activities, videos, and games. Parent PowerPoints and handouts are provided to educate and inform parents about the curriculum and what they can do to help support their children.
Cost: $150 to train a facilitator at your school.
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