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MAIN APPLICATION Program /Project Description (Label your responses as outlined below; not to exceed 3 pages Please provide the following information about the proposed program /project: b) Summarize the program services proposed and how the program will address the chosen Town /County priority? The Orange County Rape Crisis Center (OCRCC) has provided safety education programs to local youth and adults for 35 years. Our Safe Touch program was innovative and groundbreaking when first launched, and we have continued to incorporate new research and best practices into our curriculum over the years to ensure the highest quality content and delivery. Our Safe Touch program is designed for preschool through fifth grade, focusing on protective factors against sexual abuse victimization. We teach age- appropriate messages for how to identify inappropriate touches, what to do if they experience violence, and who they can talk to about violence. In fourth and fifth grade, we introduce lessons about sexual bullying, internet safety, and cyber- bullying. Our Start Strong program works in middle and high schools, focusing on risk and protective factors for perpetration of sexual violence, in accordance with primary prevention theory. In keeping with evidence -based best practices, our messages focus on positive behavior development rather than negative behavior abatement as well as on bystander empowerment rather than risk reduction for potential victims. Our programs increase protective factors for youth, including developing positive and health relationships, promoting healthy sexuality, developing media literacy skills, increasing bystander efficacy, and challenging rape myths. Our adult and parent programs utilize both primary prevention and risk reduction strategies. Our major program is Stewards of Children®, a professional training curriculum provided by the Darkness 2 Light Coalition. Relying on evidence -based methodology, we teach parents and caregivers concrete steps and practical tips for preventing, recognizing, and responding to child sexual abuse. The OCRCC's education programs address community priorities by reducing what the CDC terms Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which form the root causes of many public health issues and contribute to negative life outcomes such as substance abuse, mental and behavioral health issues, and chronic disease. In addition to their prevention focus, the programs are designed to identify children and adolescents currently experiencing violence and connect them with appropriate professional supports. Over the last five years, our staff has assisted school personnel with providing intervention services to 544 students, including making reports to the Department of Social Services in cases where mandated or recommended. c) Describe the local need or problem to be addressed in relation to the Consolidated Plan or other community priorities (i.e. Council /Board Goals). Cite local data to support the need for this program and the population being served. According to the Darkness 2 Light Coalition, about one in ten children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. And as this statistic includes contact -only abuse, we know that even more children will experience other forms of non - contact sexual violence, such as exposure, voyeurism, sexual harassment, and exposure to pornography. Sexual violence occurs in all communities and across all demographic groups, and research shows that children and teens are at even higher risk of victimization than adults: 70 percent of all reported sexual assaults occur to children under the age of 18. Though local data on sexual violence is difficult to assess, our experience corroborates these national findings. In addition to the alarmingly high rates of child sexual abuse, we also know that the negative impacts of abuse can be severe. Children who experience sexual violence may have mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, aggression, or suicidal thoughts; difficulty with interpersonal relationships and sexuality; self- esteem and body image issues; difficulty at school such as poor performance, poor behavior, or poor attendance; physical illness; and more. Without proper support, these difficulties may persist into adulthood, creating limitations on their health, employment, and housing outcomes. But just as with adults, these long -term consequences can be diminished if children receive early Main Application 1/25/2016 12:55:42 PM P a g e 1 < o f 3 2