Program Goals

The goal of Teen Lures Prevention is to bring about peer to peer conversations regarding sexual assault, harassment, dating violence, bullying/cyberbullying, sexting, identity theft, online luring, suicide and human trafficking. By providing a platform to openly discuss these issues and their prevention, Teen Lures Prevention ensures the information teens are sharing about their personal safety is accurate and productive in preventing crimes against them. This generation of teenagers may very well be the first in history to have a direct impact in reducing the incidence of these issues affecting their well-being. Teens can help change the world!

Safety Skills Prevent Victimization

Teenagers are the primary target of sexual crimes. They account for 51% of all reported sexual abuse, and teens aged 16-19 are three and a half times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault. All too often, it's a peer who takes advantage. With Teen Lures Prevention, students are trained and motivated to help be part of the solution.

Schools provide a safe environment that allows teens to openly discuss the issue of sexual abuse and to reach every student with specific prevention strategies. Schools also provide the ideal opportunity for teens to disclose sexual abuse (only 31% of teen sexual abuse incidents are reported), since school counselors and other mandated reporters are readily available.

Peer-to-Peer Abuse/Juveniles using Sexual Offending Behaviors

Teen Lures Prevention addresses peer-to-peer abuse and also provides an opportunity for youngsters who are having thoughts of abusing others to come forward and get help.

Nearly 1/3 of abuse is by juveniles aged 12-19 using sexual offending behaviors; teens themselves. Therefore, it's important to be able to recognize risk factors involved.

Who is at risk for using sexual offending behaviors?

· Older teens who lack confidence in their ability to establish and maintain a relationship with an equal may turn to someone younger as a way to boost their self-esteem.
· Older boys with stereotypical views of masculinity may see the "conquest" of a young girl as an affirmation of their masculinity.
· Teens who have control issues may find it easier to control someone who is younger.
· Teens who have been unsuccessful in relationships with their peers may prey on younger teens.
· Victims of childhood sexual abuse may abuse younger teens.

Safety Education Helps Keep Teens Safe

Teenagers are well aware that sexual crimes happen to teens. They see it on the news, online, on TV and in movies, and discuss it with their friends. By talking openly about these crimes in peer-to-peer formats, this generation of teens can be the first in history to do away with the secrecy surrounding sexual and other predatory crimes and help stop the cycle of abuse that has persisted for generations.

Class Discussions

· Affection Lure: Healthy Relationships
· Assistance Lure: Setting Personal Boundaries
· Ego/Fame Lure: Sexting and Peer Exploitation
· e-Lure: Cyberbullying, Digital Boundaries and e-Luring
· Name Lure: Privacy and Identity Theft
· Games Lure: Harassment, Exploitation and Gaming
· Emergency Lure: Instincts and School Safety
· Affection Lure: Consent, Dating Violence, Threats & Secrets
· Trafficking Lure: Runaways, Lured-aways & Human Trafficking
· Pet Lure: Disclosing Abuse & False Accusations, Program Recap

Skills

· Leadership and Community Outreach
· Increase Self-Reliance and Self-Esteem
· Master Personal Safety & Decision Making Skills
· Practice Interpersonal Communication Skills
· Ethics and Social Responsibility
· Collaboration and Teamwork
· Self Management and Asking for Help
· Reporting Abuse and/or Harassment

Format

· Intro/Quick Review
· Learning Objectives
· Student-Led Newscast presentation (5 min)
· Facilitator-Led Classroom Discussion
· Practice: Real Life Scenarios
· Multimedia/Posters
· Lesson Recap

Positive Thinking Skills

Evaluating Your Program (Pre/Post Tests Included)
A Pre/Post Test for Grades 7-8 and a Pre/Post Test for Grades 9-12 are provided to formally gauge student progress and retention of the Teen Lures Prevention lesson plans. Prior to program presentation, the Program Evaluation should be administered as at Pre-Test. It should also be administered following program completion as a Post-Test.

The Educational Goals

· To help teens develop and maintain healthy, respectful relationships.
· To nurture each teen's sense of self-worth, and to encourage teens to respect the dignity of others.
· To assure teens that laws exist to protect their health and safety.
· To remind students they have rights, including a right to live free of any form of mistreatment.
· To give students a leadership role in the prevention of bullying, harassment, dating violence, human trafficking and sexual exploitation of teens.
· To empower teens to feel comfortable talking openly about any form of mistreatment.
· To encourage students to use a combination of critical thinking and instincts to guard their personal safety.
· To encourage students to take safety precautions while enjoying the many advantages of using technology.
· To strive for kinder, more tolerant students, in an effort to maintain a safe learning environment for all.
· To cultivate 21st Century Learning skills, while building self-esteem and self confidence.
· To promote disclosure of any type of harassment or abuse, perceived or carried out.
· To assure students with thoughts of abusing self or others that help is available.
· To reduce the feelings of guilt and blame often felt by survivors of abuse.
· To encourage students to analyze media messages by asking specific questions and become proficient in obtaining evidence-based answers.
· To encourage parents to continue taking an active role in the personal safety education of their teen.
· To help make the world a safer place for all human beings.
· To encourage parents to take an active role in the personal safety education of their children.

To strive for kinder, more tolerant thoughts and actions, in an effort to lower the incidence of all forms of aggressive behavior.