Prevention
Clove Alliance goes beyond responding to the needs of survivors of sexual assault with efforts to prevent it from occurring in the first place. In fact, the elimination of sexual violence is a key tenet of our mission.
Preventing sexual violence involves more than raising awareness and informing community members about available services. It requires shifting social norms that contribute to sexual violence, promoting the norms and behaviors that foster safe communities, and taking action to advance social justice.
Clove Alliance provides prevention activities and training support to our partners in building effective prevention strategies in their communities.
To learn more about our training, education, or outreach efforts, contact us at 815.932.7273, email outreach@clovealliance.org, or fill out this form, and someone from our staff will contact you.
School-Based Prevention Programs
Clove Alliance is committed to taking an active role in preventing child sexual abuse within our community. Research shows that the most effective way to prevent abuse is to talk to children about body safety. Our body safety lessons are intended to teach valuable safety skills in an age-appropriate format and fulfill the mandates of Erin’s Law.
As children develop, our programs expand to discuss crucial topics like boundaries, safe grownups, healthy relationships, digital safety, consent, and sexual violence. We believe that empowering youth to stand against sexual harm is a powerful tool for ending it.
Pre-K through 1st Grade
This kid-friendly lesson teaches young children body safety rules in a simple, interactive way. Presenters emphasize that every child is the “boss of their body” and use our well-known teddy bears in bathing suits, Max & Molly, to help children understand and identify private areas, practice the “yell, run, and tell” strategy, and recognize safe grown-ups they can talk to.
2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade
2nd Grade • Mastering the Art of Boundaries (NEW!):
This lesson reinforces key body safety concepts with a review of Body Safety with Max & Molly before reading Consent Ninja by Mary Nhin. Students then learn about communicating their feelings and boundaries assertively and practice through class discussions and role-playing common scenarios. The lesson emphasizes recognizing unsafe situations, speaking up for oneself, and seeking help from trusted adults, while building confidence in making safe choices and protecting personal boundaries.
3rd Grade • Staying Safe and Feeling Strong:
This lesson discusses where “private areas” are on the body and who students consider part of their “Safety Team.” Students are introduced to the early warning signs (Body Alert) our bodies provide when we feel unsafe. We also discuss being “assertive” and students interact with role-playing scenarios to practice.
4th Grade • Brave Bodies, Brave Voices: Learning About Safety & Trust:
This lesson introduces the book Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept by Jayneed Sanders, in which a child’s caregiver breaks their body safety rules. The story demonstrates the challenges of telling a safe grown-up about this abuse. Students are guided through the content by answering questions to identify the problem, acknowledging that the abusive person was not a stranger, and possible lies an abuser may tell a child. Students are reminded about their early warning signs (Body Alert) and how bodies may respond when in danger. Students also get to practice assertive behaviors with role-playing scenarios.
5th Grade • Smart, Strong, and Safe Choices:
This lesson introduces the book The Kid Trapper by Julia Cook, in which the main character’s neighbor manipulates them into an abusive situation. Students are guided through the content by answering questions to identify the problem, recognizing what being trapped looks like, and learning the importance of reporting abuse. A “Sticky Situations” activity is also presented, allowing students to spot unsafe scenarios and explore how to make safe choices.
Middle School & High School • Consent, Connection, and Courage: A Guide to Being a Respectful and Safe Online Upstander (NEW!)
This interactive lesson helps students build the knowledge and skills to understand consent, digital safety, the bystander effect, and intervention strategies while learning how to access help and trusted resources. Through polls, real-life examples, and open discussion, participants will define consent, learn about the bystander effect and why it is important to be an upstander, identify digital risks such as sexting, grooming, sextortion, and deepfakes, and learn practical safety steps. We also explore how to support a friend experiencing harm and connect with Clove Alliance or other trusted resources.
The session is designed to create a safe, respectful space and includes a content warning and opportunities for students to pause or seek help if needed.
Two lesson options are available for teaching body safety to students with special learning needs.
Body Safety Rules! (NEW!):
Geared towards students with higher support needs, this lesson teaches body safety using images of our teddy bears, Max and Molly. A short slide presentation is followed by an interactive Safe or Unsafe game.
Consent, Connection, and Courage (New!):
For students with lower support needs, this lesson teaches body safety through an interactive classroom review game, “Blooket”. Students will answer questions that spark conversation about consent, digital safety, and the bystander effect. Each participant will have an opportunity to play a round of Blooket Monster Brawl to reinforce learning.
College
Our facilitators bring dynamic, customized trainings and presentations to college campuses, whether it’s at club meetings, campus events, or in the classroom. We tailor each session to meet the unique needs of your organization, and we welcome groups of all sizes; no audience is too small to make an impact.
Caregiver and Parent Workshop
Connected and Protected: Empowering Youth In Their Digital
and Everyday Lives – (NEW!)
This virtual workshop gives caregivers and community members practical tools and information to help children and youth build healthy boundaries, navigate online and everyday situations safely, and feel comfortable coming to trusted adults when they have questions or concerns.
It explores how offenders use grooming behaviors in person and online, and
attendees will learn simple strategies for safety, open communication, and “digital mentoring,” which guides children through technology without relying on fear or punishment. We’ll also cover how to respond compassionately if a child discloses abuse, and connect them with appropriate support.
This workshop can be presented in a school or community setting.
To see upcoming sessions that are available to the public, visit our Caregiver Workshop page.
To bring Clove Alliance to your school, community organization, or parent group, contact us at 815.932.7273, email outreach@clovealliance.org, or fill out this form, and someone from our staff will reply.
Trainings for Educators
Compassionate Response to Disclosure & Mandated Reporter Training
This training equips school professionals with the knowledge and skills to recognize signs of child sexual abuse, respond compassionately to student disclosures, and fulfill their responsibilities as mandated reporters under Illinois law. Participants will explore the impact of trauma on children and adolescents, learn trauma-informed strategies for supporting students, and develop confidence in responding to concerns in a safe, survivor-centered manner. Through interactive discussion, real-world scenarios, and practical tools, attendees will strengthen their ability to promote student safety, support healing, and connect students and families with appropriate resources. CEUS are available.
Faith’s Law: Recognizing Grooming and Maintaining Appropriate Relationships (NEW!)
This training is designed to help educators recognize, prevent, and appropriately respond to grooming behaviors, boundary violations, and sexual misconduct involving students. It supports compliance with Illinois Faith’s Law by promoting safe, professional educator-student relationships and reinforcing educators’ responsibilities as mandated reporters. The training emphasizes student safety, ethical conduct, early intervention, and the creation of school environments where inappropriate behavior is identified and reported before harm occurs.
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
This interactive training provides employees with the knowledge and tools needed to recognize, prevent, and respond to sexual harassment in the workplace in accordance with the Illinois Human Rights Act and other applicable federal and state laws. Participants will explore what constitutes sexual harassment, examine common forms of inappropriate workplace behavior, learn about employee and employer rights and responsibilities, and review reporting procedures and protections against retaliation. Through real-world examples, videos, interactive polling, and discussion, participants will gain practical strategies for fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace. The training emphasizes shared responsibility, bystander intervention, and creating a workplace culture rooted in professionalism, respect, and accountability.
Body Safety Training
This training is designed for educators and school staff working with children in PreK through 1st grade. It provides the tools your school needs to meet Erin’s Law requirements. Participants will learn practical strategies for delivering age-appropriate sexual abuse prevention lessons with confidence and care. We will provide all resources and materials needed to implement these lessons.
To schedule a training contact us at 815.932.7273, email outreach@clovealliance.org, or fill out this form and someone from our staff will reply.
Empowerment and Prevention Initiatives
TruSelf Empowerment
A 6-week program that recognizes the importance of planting the seeds of empowerment at an early age. Through thoughtful and interactive practices, each student sets a foundation to love, honor, and respect themselves. The series is designed for 6th-12th grade students identifying as female.
Students Against Sexual Harassment Club (SASH)
Youth-led in partnership with Clove Alliance, SASH clubs empower young people to work against gender-based violence. It’s a safe place for teens to learn about healthy relationships, consent, bystander intervention, survivor support, and violence prevention. Members develop leadership, communication, and advocacy skills while promoting safer, more respectful, and inclusive communities.
SASH Club is designed for youth ages 12+. It can be hosted by schools, youth-serving organizations, community groups, scouting programs, faith-based organizations, and other community partners.
Learn more about SASH Club and bringing it to your school here.
Connected and Protected: Empowering Youth In Their Digital and Everyday Lives – (NEW!)
This workshop gives caregivers and community members practical tools and information to help children and youth build healthy boundaries, navigate online and everyday situations safely, and feel comfortable coming to trusted adults when they have questions or concerns.
It explores how offenders use grooming behaviors in person and online, and attendees will learn simple strategies for safety, open communication, and “digital mentoring,” which guides children through technology without relying on fear or punishment. We’ll also cover how to respond compassionately if a child discloses abuse, and connect them with appropriate support.
Participants will embark prepared to support the young people in their lives.
Clove Alliance is available to provide resource tables at local events such as resource fairs, conferences, festivals, orientations, and more.
Empowerment and Prevention Initiatives are offered to the community and school settings. To learn more, contact us at 815.932.7273, email outreach@clovealliance.org, or fill out this form, and someone from our staff will reply.