CASA of North Texas Offers
COPE 360*
Community Outreach & Prevention Education
What we do
COPE is more than just sharing information. We present a positive culture with opportunities for critical thinking and encourage confidence in decision-making, self - awareness, setting boundaries, and resilience. along with identifying warning signs and promoting open communication.
Each curriculum is designed support skills and knowledge for making healthy choices, managing feelings, and solving problems peacefully. Our team offers security in a learning environment that is understanding and reassuring, providing proactive options and take-home materials, that bolsters more family engagement. Our intentions are to keep children safe while maintaining and achieving social and emotional health.
Total awareness offers a full 360* approach, for students, parents, and teachers. Along with relating to the kids, we offer adult training in Human Trafficking and Recognizing & Reporting Abuse.
Our COPE staff is qualified to facilitate four different evidence - based curriculums that will grow with the students each year.
School Safety Law Tool Kit
Legislation
Senate Bill 9
In 2009 the Texas Legislature passed Erin’s Law, which requires the following:
Education for students in grades PreK-12th grade age-appropriate techniques to recognize child sexual abuse and tell a trusted adult. Instruction for school personnel on how to identify, respond, and report child sexual abuse. For parents to receive information on child sexual abuse including how to make a referral, Sharing community resources.
Erin's Law has been passed in 37 states.​​
​​​​
​
Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) of the 87th Texas Legislative Session requires school districts to offer curriculum to students in the prevention of child abuse (elementary & secondary), family violence (elementary & secondary), dating violence (secondary), and sex trafficking (secondary). Parents/caregivers must provide consent before their child can receive instruction in the specified topics. Without opt-in consent, students will be unable to participate in the lesson(s).
​
​
With guidance from the School Health Advisory Council (SHAC), Cooke County school districts has approved the curriculums that will be used for the different grade levels. The curriculum is provided by and facilitated by CASAs COPE team. Parent/caregivers may preview the curriculum as indicated below.
Evidence Based Curriculums
Darkness to Light is changing lives
Educate
Adult education is key to preventing child sexual abuse.
​​​​
Why adult education? 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused by their 18th birthday. When abuse is defined simply as a power dynamic in which a more powerful person forces themselves upon a less powerful person, educating children alone to protect themselves is insufficient. The burden of prevention and protection must sit squarely on the shoulders of adults who are legally and morally responsible for the health and safety of children.
​
The framework for Darkness to Light’s educational model is the 5 Steps to Protecting Children™. Our prevention trainings, community advocacy, and communications strategy are all based upon the principles taught in these steps.
Research
Research broadens our understanding of how child sexual abuse occurs and can help us better prevent it.​
​
Darkness to Light uses qualitative and quantitative methods to inform our program design, and then we monitor and evaluate change. We use results to iterate and improve programming and to ensure that we are creating meaningful and sustainable change. Child sexual abuse research is critical to effectively protect children.
​​
​
Stewards of Children® has been extensively evaluated. It is the only evidence-informed, adult-focused child sexual abuse prevention training program available nationally
Advocate
Darkness to Light works with stakeholders at the community, state, and federal levels to empower influential adults to speak out and take action against child sexual abuse.
​​
​
Through the use of advocacy strategies, we empower caregivers, community leaders, government officials, and the media to motivate their constituents, congregants, and communities to take preventive action, to demand improved resources for child sexual abuse prevention research and programs, and to improve systems so they are protective of children and reduce their risk for sexual abuse.