Opt-Out Form

PARISH LETTERHEAD


TO: Parents of Children in Religious Education Grades 1 and 4

FROM: [Pastor or DRE/CRE]

SUBJECT: Teaching Our Children to Protect Themselves

DATE:


The job of ensuring children's safety is a challenging undertaking. The prevention of child sexual abuse requires more than adult awareness, education, and training about the nature and scope of the problem. We must also give our children the tools they need to overcome the advances of someone who intends to do them harm. The Teaching Touching Safety program is a program designed to assist parents and teachers in this important task. The Touching Safety program helps give children the tools they need to protect themselves from those who might harm them.

On ____________, students in our 1^st and/or 4^th grade religious education classes will be attending Teaching Touching Safety. This program is from the creators of the Protecting God’s Children™ , the program which is required of all parish volunteers and employees who regularly work with children and is part of our ongoing efforts to help create and maintain a safe environment for children and to protect all children from sexual abuse.

As a parent, you have the right to choose whether your child participates. We encourage you to read the attached “overview” so you’ll be aware of the nature of the Touching Safety program. If you have questions about the program or would like a copy of the actual lesson, please contact [CONTACT NAME] at [CONTACT NUMBER]. If you determine that you DO NOT want your child to participate, please complete the “opt-out” form at the bottom of this page, and return it to your child’s religious education teacher no later than [DATE 3].

Opt-out form for use with the Touching Safety program:

[NAME of school or program] does not have my permission to present the Touching Safety program, to my child whose name is _____________________________________________________________________________.