Shingles, clay tiles, a multitude of colors and materials. Roofs come in many styles but one thing they all offer is protection, safety, and shelter. Not unlike a house without a sound roof, a victim of child abuse’s protection and safety are compromised, resulting in what may be the worst experience of their entire lives. But there is a way to get in front of the issue of child abuse. A way to offer protection, safety, and shelter from the evils that lurk with the issue of child abuse. By educating children on personal body and Internet safety, and by informing adults on how to better protect children in their lives and properly report abuse, we provide the roof over the house that trust built.

Our staff of educators go out into our community, whether that is a school, church, organization, or business, and teach adults and children alike on signs, symptoms, and appropriate reactions to child abuse. By offering prevention education free of charge across all of Tarrant County, our team ensure that children know how to recognize, resist, and speak up if someone is abusing them or a friend. Additionally, we find it imperative that adults know the signs and symptoms of abuse, the steps to report it, and how to help any child who might come to them in confidence.

We offer two free educational programs for children including Netsmartz®, an interactive, educational safety resource developed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children® and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. This program teaches children and teens how to stay safe on and encourages appropriate use of the Internet. “P.S. It’s My Body!” is an innovative, practical safety series for children designed by The Sunflower House to teach and reinforce the three R’s of personal safety: Recognizing, Resisting, and Reporting. The program discusses personal body safety, recognizing what an appropriate touch is, and how to identify a trusted adult in their lives. 

Education for adults includes: Stewards of Children®, a revolutionary training program that educates adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse; Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention 101, covering the realities of child abuse and its effect on our communities, and the definitions of child abuse as determined by law; Internet Safety for Parents, Guardians and Communities, educating parents, guardians and communities on how to help keep children and teens safe online; and Let's Talk: Talking with Your Child about Personal Body Safety, which covers current professional recommendations on developmentally appropriate conversations regarding personal body safety, and evidence-informed guidance and tips.

Protecting children from abuse is our goal, and community education has a large part of the effectiveness of our work.