Tulare County Office of Education - School Health Programs

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Child Abuse & Neglect (C.A.N.) Prevention Program

Everyday in America, 9,000 children are reported as abused, neglected, or abandoned; 500 children are placed in foster care; and 5 children die from child abuse. In Tulare County, 1 out of 11 children is a reported victim of child abuse. Currently, 1,800 children are in the juvenile court dependency system, most of which are victims of child abuse and neglect.

Our mission is to break the cycle of abuse by educating children to recognize and deal with potentially dangerous situations. In 1985, the Tulare County Office of Education initiated the Child Abuse and Neglect (C.A.N.) Prevention Program and received a grant to fund the project. After 20 years, the program continues to serve the children and families of Tulare County.

The program offers first and fifth grade classroom presentations to every district in Tulare County. Two trained volunteers present the material in a very non-threatening manner. In first grade, a 10-minute video called, "My Body Belongs To Me," is shown and a hand puppet called Safety Sam is used to teach the children how to "Say no, get away, and tell someone you trust" when they are in a dangerous or uncomfortable situation. The volunteers review scenarios frequently used to lure children. The first grade program is available in both English and Spanish.

Presentations in the fifth grade feature a 17-minute video entitled, "Better Safe Than Sorry". Four different scenarios are reenacted and the presenters stop the video periodically to discuss options to keep safe in the situations. Family safety rules are stressed and many students share their own strategies for keeping safe.

The C.A.N. Prevention Program has recently added a parent awareness and education component. The goal is to help establish, strengthen, and maintain a healthy emotional and physical relationship between parents and children. We offer presentations and trainings at parent meetings and community forums.

Together We CAN Prevent Child Abuse!

For more information or to schedule a presentation, e-mail or call Gillian Gonzalez at (559) 651-0130.

Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Program
Positively Speaking HIV/AIDS Volunteer Speaker Program
Shadowing Program for COS Nursing Students
Family Life Education

Tulare County Office of Education
School Health Program
7000 Doe Avenue, Building 700
Visalia, CA 93291

Candy Hilvers, Program Manager
(559) 651-0130
fax: (559) 651-1995

Please direct web site problems or comments to tcoeweb@tcoe.org.