Erin's Law

February 3, 2025
CORRECTED DATES

Dear John Middleton Elementary School Families, 
  
YWCA Evanston/North Shore will be delivering a Building Healthy Relationships program in our school this year. This program is meant to deliver basic information to support the prevention of child abuse as required by an Illinois state law called Erin’s Law.  
 
Erin’s Law was created by a survivor of child sexual abuse from Naperville, IL, and the State of Illinois requires that all students in grades K-12 receive instruction on this topic. Students at John Middleton Elementary, in all grades 1st-5th, will cover topics such as understanding the kinds of touches and behaviors that are considered sexual abuse and respecting both one’s own and others’ bodies. Students will also practice consent, assertive communication, and the importance of speaking to trusted adults about concerns with boundaries and unsafe touches. All of the lessons and language used is scaffolded to be age-appropriate, and is developed and presented by a trained educator. You may also learn more about Erin’s Law online at www.erinslaw.org.
 
This program will be delivered in one session per grade in all grades.

While a facilitator from the YWCA is leading the discussions, school social workers and other mental health providers will be in the room to support students who are uncomfortable or need to make a report. The sessions will be provided during the school day from Monday, February 10 through Friday, February 21, 2025. If you feel it would be best to remove your student from this session, please let your child’s teacher know this, or you can call Middleton Social Worker Erin Gregg at 847-676-8056.
 
Sincerely,

Erin Gregg
Social Worker