Speak Up Be Safe®

Speak Up Be Safe® is an evidence-based, age-appropriate prevention education program created by Childhelp that teaches children skills to stay safe, recognize unsafe situations, and speak up if something doesn’t feel right.

❋ Evidence-Based

Developed by Childhelp®, the curriculum uses research-informed prevention strategies to help children build personal safety knowledge and skills.

❋ Empowering

Children learn that abuse is never their fault, they have the right to feel safe, and there are adults who can help.

❋ Age-Appropriate

Lessons are tailored to children’s developmental stages, ensuring information is presented in a way students can understand.

❋ Interactive

Engaging discussions, activities, and real-life scenarios help students practice recognizing unsafe situations and seeking help.

Grade Level Lessons

Speak Up Be Safe® provides age-appropriate lessons for students in Pre-K through 12th grade, with content designed to meet the developmental needs of each age group.

Pre-K - 2nd Grade

Young children learn foundational personal safety concepts, including understanding boundaries, recognizing unsafe situations, and identifying safe adults in their lives.

Lessons reinforce that adults are responsible for keeping children safe and that children can always ask for help when something makes them feel unsafe or uncomfortable.

3rd - 5th Grade

Students build on foundational safety concepts by learning important safety rules, recognizing potential risks, and identifying safe adults who can help.

Through interactive activities, students practice strategies for responding to unsafe situations while continuing to understand that adults are responsible for their safety.

6th - 8th Grade

As students begin experiencing greater independence, lessons focus on recognizing potential risks, understanding personal boundaries, and practicing strategies to resist unsafe situations.

Students learn how to respond to concerning behaviors, seek help from safe adults, and make informed decisions as their responsibilities and privileges increase.

9th - 12th Grade

High school students explore personal safety in the context of increasing independence, relationships, and everyday experiences.

Lessons focus on recognizing unhealthy relationships, identifying abusive behaviors, preventing harm, and knowing when and how to seek help.

Students also learn the importance of building strong support networks with safe adults and peers.

What Students Learn

❋  Understand body safety and personal boundaries
❋  Recognize safe, unsafe, and confusing situations
❋  Identify and seek out safe adults
❋  Learn about bullying, cyberbullying, and online safety
❋  Build healthy relationships
❋  Develop strategies to respond to unsafe situations
❋  Gain the confidence to speak up and seek help

What You Can Expect

Before the Lessons

Our team will work with you to coordinate scheduling, identify participating grade levels, and share information about the curriculum and parent or guardian consent procedures.

Program Details

  • Students in Pre-K through 12th grade

  • Two lessons per grade level

  • Approximately 20-45 minutes per lesson

  • In person at your school or organization

  • Free of charge

  • Trained prevention educators from Nashville Children’s Alliance

  • Meets Tennessee’s Erin’s Law child sexual abuse prevention education requirements

During the Lessons

NCA educators will facilitate engaging, developmentally appropriate lessons using discussion, visuals, activities, and real-life scenarios.

After the Lessons

Students leave with practical safety skills and a better understanding of how to recognize unsafe situations and seek help.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes. Childhelp® Speak Up Be Safe® is recognized by the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare as an evidence-based prevention program. The curriculum is supported by research examining its effectiveness in increasing students' safety knowledge and skills.

  • Yes. Speak Up Be Safe® addresses physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and other forms of interpersonal harm using developmentally appropriate language and activities.

    Lessons for younger children focus on foundational safety concepts, while older students explore more complex situations involving relationships, boundaries, and personal safety.

  • Speak Up Be Safe® is designed to meet Erin's Law child sexual abuse prevention education requirements and is aligned with national educational and health standards.

  • Yes. NCA works with schools and organizations to share information about the curriculum and coordinate parent or guardian communication and consent procedures before presentations.

  • Nashville Children's Alliance provides Speak Up Be Safe® presentations at no cost to participating schools and organizations.

Bring Speak Up Be Safe® to Your Youth-Serving Organization

Empowering the Next Generation

Partner with Nashville Children’s Alliance to bring Speak Up Be Safe to your school or organization. Together, we can help create safer environments for children.

Request a Training