The SafeTouch: Body Safety Program is a curriculum that teaches children personal and body safety awareness using an engaging, child friendly curriculum which includes group activities, age/developmentally appropriate discussions, role-play, puppets, and videos. The activities help children learn to say “no” and get away and tell a trusted adult if confronted with unsafe situations. The program also teaches students how to recognize inappropriate and abusive situations. Goals of the curriculum are to reduce children’s vulnerability and to help them identify trusted adults they can talk to if confronted with unsafe situations. The LFS Prevention Program annually presents SafeTouch to more than 9,000 students ages 5 to 12 in 20-25 elementary schools in Weld County. SafeTouch is presented to each classroom as a single session. This allows the presentations to occur within a comfortable environment in which the children feel at ease asking questions or sharing information. Should the children report any type of potential abuse, the teachers, counselors or presenters, as mandatory reporters, make referrals to law enforcement or social services as required by the Colorado Revised Statutes. The SafeTouch program is provided throughout the entire school year. Each participating school receives presentations once a year. On average, the program remains at a school for 3 days in order to complete the program in each individual classroom within the school. LFS defines success of the SafeTouch program as having participating kindergarten through fifth graders demonstrating that they can:

1. Recognize and react to unsafe touches by saying “No” and getting help.
2. Name a safe adult that they can tell if they experience abuse.

2020-2021 People Served by Area of Weld County

• Carbon Valley (Berthoud, Dacono, Erie, Firestone, Frederick, Longmont, Mead, Northglenn, Thornton): 1090
• County Seat (Evans, Garden City, Greeley): 350
• Outback (Briggsdale, Grover, New Raymer): 0
• Poudre River Corridor (Severance, Windsor): 1418
• South County (Brighton, Fort Lupton, Hudson, Keenesburg, Lochbuie): 1015
• Thompson River Valley (Johnstown, Milliken): 1297
• US-85 Corridor South (Platteville, Gilcrest, LaSalle, Kersey): 451
• US-85 Corridor North (Eaton, Ault, Pierce, Nunn): 0
• Outside Weld County: 0

Find out more about this program:
2019-2020
2020-2021

Feedback from school partners continues to be a critical way to evaluate the program. This year, a 5th grade student sent educator Pettijohn a note saying “thank you for teaching us about how to keep ourselves safe. I learned a lot of important stuff.” The principal at the same school shared that it was a great program and that she was appreciative it was offered this year.” Additionally, the school counselor from Milliken Elementary School shared with educator Pettijohn, “THANK YOU! You did such an amazing job presenting to our school and the kids loved it! I even had a kid reference a "safe" touch today when I was doing a lesson and my heart fluttered a bit. I had to report a couple cases that came about unfortunately, but I feel that this presentation gives them that "green light" which is awesome.”