The Alaska Safe Children’s Act

The Alaska Safe Children’s Act (informally known as Erin’s and Bree’s Law) is made up of two separate pieces of legislation and went into effect on June 30, 2017.

• AS 14.30.355 (Erin’s Law)
• AS 14.30.356 (Bree’s Law)

AS 14.30.355 Sexual Abuse & Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention – The governing body of each school district shall adopt and implement a policy, establish a training program for employees and students, and provide parent notices relating to sexual abuse and sexual assault awareness and prevention for students enrolled in grades kindergarten through 12.

The policy, training, and notices adopted under this section must include:

• Age-appropriate information
• Warning signs of sexual abuse of a child
• Referral and resources information
• Methods for increasing teacher, student and parent awareness of issues regarding sexual abuse of children
• Actions that a child may take to prevent and report sexual assault;
• A procedure allowing a allowing a student to be excused from participating in training or from receiving notices under this section at the written request of a parent or guardian of the student, or of the student if the student is emancipated or 18 years of age or older.

Implementation Support:

Training for employees and students:

• Mandated Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect – Training for staff developed by DEED
• State Developed Curriculum for Students
• Curriculum Recommended by the Alaska Safe Children’s Act Task Force

Parent notices:

• Parent Notice Template

AS 14.30.356 Teen dating violence and abuse awareness and prevention program; training and notices - The department, in consultation with school districts, shall develop and approve a program relating to teen dating violence and abuse awareness and prevention for grades seven through 12.

The training, notices, and instructions adopted under this section must include:

• Age-appropriate information
• Warning signs of dating violence and abusive behavior
• Characteristics of healthy relationships
• Measures to prevent and stop dating violence and abuse
• Community resources available to victims of dating violence and abuse;
• A procedure allowing a allowing a student to be excused from participating in training or from receiving notices under this section at the written request of a parent or guardian of the student, or of the student if the student is emancipated or 18 years of age or older.

The Bree Moore Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Program:

Training for employees and students:

• Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Educator Training – Training for Staff developed by DEED
• State Developed Curriculum for Students
• Curriculum Recommended by the Alaska Safe Children’s Act Task Force

Parent notices:

• Parent Notice Template

Review Process: the program must be reviewed periodically by a qualified individual or committee for consistency with generally accepted standards for a teen dating violence and abuse awareness and prevention program.

• If a district elects to use a curriculum that is not listed above to meet the requirements under AS 14.30.356, it must be reviewed by DEED prior to use. For information on the review process please contact Pat Sidmore.

• Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Educator Training
• Mandated Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect
• Prenatal Alcohol and Drug Related Disabilities
• Suicide Awareness & Prevention Trainings

The month of February each year is established as Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month may be observed by schools, community groups, and other public and private agencies and individuals with appropriate activities that increase the public's awareness of teen dating violence in the state, encourage Alaskans to pursue healthy relationships and learn the signs of teen dating violence, and promote prevention of and action to end teen dating violence.

• Alaska Children’s Alliance
• Alaska Children’s Trust
• Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
• Local DV/SA service providers (link to list)
• Governor's Council on Human and Sex Trafficing (CHST)
• State of Alaska, Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

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