Project AWARE

Project AWARE, the child sexual-abuse prevention program of the SFRCC & TTC, utilizes a revised version of the award-winning "Hands that Hurt, Hands that Heal" curriculum. Project AWARE targets upper elementary students in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico. The four-lesson program is culturally competent, age-appropriate, and inclusive for children with disabilities.

Did you know?

• Current research indicates that 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 6 boys will experience the horror of sexual abuse before their eighteenth birthdays—85% of the time by people they know and trust.
• Over 85% of children with disabilities will be sexually abused in their lifetime.
• Sexual abuse of children continues to be the most underreported crime.
• Early prevention and intervention empowers children with the skills they need to stay safe and healthy.
• Studies suggest that a child who is properly informed about sexual abuse is less likely to become a victim than an uninformed child is.

Other components of Project AWARE

Project AWARE also includes:

• A resource library, open to the community, of nationally accredited educational materials.
• Ongoing trainings for parents, teachers, and caregivers.
• Co-sponsorship of the March Forth with Dignity Conference, a one-day event that explores the multiple issues surrounding the sexual abuse and assault of persons with developmental disabilities.

Project AWARE is based on the reality that children are not responsible for sexual abuse and are not always able to prevent it from happening. Children can be educated and empowered with the awareness and skills needed to promote healthy body boundaries and to be safe.

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