Birdville ISD (BISD) recently received the Mitch Poe Service Award at the Tarrant County Sexual Abuse Advisory Council (TCSAAC) Conference. This award honors professionals and individuals who distinguish themselves as passionate defenders of victims of sexual abuse. Such service on behalf of victims includes: increasing public awareness, assisting other service professionals, providing treatment for victims, lobbying for legislative changes on behalf of victims, and helping victims of sexual abuse receive fair treatment in the judicial process.

In 1987, BISD recognized the benefit of incorporating school-based education and prevention of child sexual abuse to children in their district. After researching credible and effective programs, and determining the importance of having professionals provide the education, staff from The Women’s Center began providing the Play it Safe!^® program to students at one of the elementary schools. Twenty years ago, BISD’s Administration mandated that all schools provide Play it Safe! ^® throughout the district, prekindergarten through high school, resulting in over 18,000 students per year receiving sexual assault and abuse prevention education. With consistent and repeated, grade-specific, programing across the district, BISD students are empowered with the ability to recognize, respond to, and report abuse, and learn healthy behaviors and attitudes to help in the prevention of sexual violence. Throughout the last 30 years, BISD has been the epitome of a community partner, working with The Women’s Center staff, CPS, and law enforcement to ensure the safety of children who make outcries during or after Play it Safe! ^® presentations. Where some might hesitate to follow through with a child’s report of abuse, BISD responds effectively and efficiently, while following the law for mandated reporters, believing that protecting one student, is protecting all students. Various other community agencies are brought into classrooms to ensure that students receive education on difficult topics, provided by professionals in their respective fields. SafeHaven of Tarrant County is brought in to provide primary prevention education within the schools, helping students break the cycle of relationships built on manipulation and control, and to instead develop relationships built around care and support.

BISD recognizes the importance of system change as a component of ending violence. By providing training to staff on trauma-sensitive issues and opportunities for parents to be engaged in the process of preventing child abuse, all levels of the system become educated on ways to end sexual violence. This district works to not only build academically sound individuals, but also students who understand and value the importance of respect and healthy boundaries, thereby building responsible bystanders to help prevent sexual violence in our society.

For more information on the Play it Safe!^® program in BISD, contact Donna Layer, director of counseling, at 817-547-5700.

The Mitch Poe Public Service Award was submitted by Katharine Collier-Esser, The Women’s Center, kesser@womenscentertc.org.