Sexual violence has devastating consequences. Far too often, young people are the targets, and the impact can last a lifetime. Research shows that 1 in 9 girls and 1 in 20 boys experience sexual abuse before the age of 18. These numbers are not just statistics—they represent children in our communities. Their safety, trust, and well-being rely on us taking action.

Some of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of sexual abuse is by starting safety conversations early, building knowledge year after year, and giving young people the tools they need to recognize unsafe situations, set boundaries, and seek help. Parents and caregivers should introduce these concepts at a young age, and the more they are reinforced, the better! That’s why Clove Alliance brings free, evidence-based prevention education into classrooms and community spaces throughout Kankakee, Iroquois, and Ford counties.

Our school-based prevention programs meet students where they are with lessons designed to be age-appropriate, interactive, and empowering. The result? Students leave feeling more confident in spotting unsafe situations, supporting their peers, and finding help if something happens.

The Principal at Donovan Elementary School, Kelly Siedentop, observes that “Clove Alliance [presentations] are thoughtfully tailored to meet the needs of our students. These sessions are not only interactive but also incredibly meaningful, equipping students with knowledge and skills to help them navigate real-life situations with confidence and awareness.”  

“These sessions are…equipping students with knowledge and skills to help them navigate real-life situations with confidence and awareness.” 

— Kelly Siedentop, Donovan Elementary School Principal

Prevention Programs for Every Stage of Childhood and Adolescence

Our programs grow alongside students, reinforcing key safety concepts at every age and helping schools meet the Erin’s Law mandate for child sexual abuse prevention. The following overview shows what students gain in each grade group, and further details can be found on our prevention page.

Early Elementary School (Pre-K–2nd Grade)

We train school staff to deliver sexual abuse prevention lessons for preschool to 2nd-grade students. These programs focus on body safety, recognizing safe vs. unsafe touch, and naming trusted adults to talk to. All materials and resources are provided, making it easy for schools to implement.

Elementary School (3rd Grade–5th Grade)

Clove Alliance delivers programs that reinforce body safety lessons and build safe decision-making. During these years, students learn to recognize early warning signs like secrecy, understand that abusers are often not strangers, spot manipulative situations, and build assertiveness skills to say “no” and seek help through interactive role-play.

Middle School (6th–8th Grade)

Sessions emphasize building healthy, respectful relationships both in person and online. Students learn about consent as a form of permission, respect, and effective communication. Interactive activities help students learn how to recognize and respect personal boundaries, practice asking for and giving consent, and continue to develop the skills to assert themselves when boundaries are crossed.

Our TruSelf Empowerment program is also offered to middle schools. Over 6 weeks, we plant the seeds of empowerment through interactive, thoughtful sessions that encourage students to love, honor, and respect themselves.

High School (9th–12th Grade)

High school sessions are all about relationships, with students exploring ways to recognize healthy, unhealthy, and abusive ones. They also expand on their knowledge of how to set boundaries, understand consent, online safety, and know how to seek help when needed.

High school students can also join Students Against Sexual Harassment (SASH), a student-led group committed to ending sexual violence and changing harmful social norms. Julia Daly, a school counsellor from Herscher High School, shares that SASH “…provides a safe space for students to talk about the concerns of sexual harassment within our school. Our students love this club…”. It’s an empowering opportunity to make a positive culture change at their school with their peers. 

Beyond the Classroom

Clove Alliance’s prevention work reaches far beyond K-12 classrooms with offerings for summer camps, youth programs, college students, parents, educators, community groups, and more. Workshops are tailored to the audience. For young people, we commonly cover topics like body safety, consent, healthy relationships, and bystander intervention. Adult trainings can cover recognizing grooming, responding to disclosures, reporting abuse, and more. 

As Kacie Claire, the coordinator for a local camp, shares, “The importance of these conversations cannot be overstated, and Clove Alliance approaches them with professionalism, sensitivity, and a deep understanding of the needs of young people.”

“The importance of these conversations cannot be overstated, and Clove Alliance approaches them with…a deep understanding of the needs of young people.” 

— Kacie Claire, Camp 911 Coordinator

Why Sexual Violence Prevention Programs Work

Our lessons are rooted in evidence-based strategies proven to reduce risk, change harmful social norms, and promote safe, respectful behavior. Research shows that school-based sexual abuse prevention programs help children:

• Recognize different types of abuse
• Identify unsafe situations
• Say “no” and use assertive communication
• Tell trusted adults about unsafe situations
• Support peers who may be at risk

The skills and knowledge learned in these programs have been shown to reduce violence and sexual abuse for years—making prevention a long-term investment in community safety.

Bring Clove Alliance to Your School

We believe every child deserves to learn about safety, respect, and healthy relationships—and every school and youth program can play a role in making that happen!

If you are a teacher, school administrator, youth worker, or parent in Kankakee, Iroquois, or Ford counties, Clove Alliance can help you bring these lessons to your kids at no cost. We’ll provide the support you need to make sexual violence prevention easy and effective!

To get started, fill out our online interest form and a Training & Education Specialist will be in touch. You may also call us at 815-932-7273 or email outreach@clovealliance.org.

Together, through education, empowerment, and action, we can build a future free from sexual violence—starting right in our classrooms.

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A Local Resource for Survivors of All Ages

Prevention and training are only part of our mission. Clove Alliance also offers free, confidential counseling, advocacy, and legal support for survivors of sexual violence of all ages, as well as support for their loved ones.