Safe and Stable Stewards Free Resource Guide

Sep 27

Written By Aleigha

Core Youth Empowerment Toolkit

Self-Actualization, Body Safety & Sex Education Resources

By Aleigha Johnson, Safe and Stable Conditions

About This Toolkit

This toolkit provides the foundational resources for youth empowerment education, focusing on self-actualization, body safety, comprehensive sex education, and digital safety. These are the core building blocks that every young person deserves access to, regardless of their background or community.

This toolkit is part of the Safe and Stable Youth Empowerment Program - designed to give young people the tools I wish I had as a child sexual abuse survivor. Comprehensive sex education goes beyond traditional "sex ed" to include consent, boundaries, proper body terminology, hygiene practices, and tools for self-actualization that help eliminate shame and empower young people to connect authentically with their communities.

Why This Toolkit Matters: The Evidence

The Reality:

1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys experience childhood sexual abuse
Most childhood sexual abuse (90%) is perpetrated by someone the child knows and trusts
Only 38% of child survivors ever disclose their abuse to anyone

The Solution - Evidence-Based Prevention: Research consistently shows that comprehensive sex education and youth empowerment programs are the most effective ways to prevent childhood sexual abuse. These programs:

Increase children's ability to recognize inappropriate behavior by 40-60%
Improve disclosure rates when abuse does occur
Reduce shame and self-blame among survivors
Build protective skills without creating fear or anxiety

Benefits & Trade-offs of This Toolkit

Benefits of the DIY Approach:

Community-Specific Customization: Just like harm and healing are specific to each survivor, safety looks different in every community. This toolkit lets you select resources that align with your community's values, readiness level, and cultural context
Flexible Implementation: Use resources individually, in small groups, or community-wide
Cost-Effective: Free access to evidence-based resources
Immediate Access: Start implementing protective education right away
Comprehensive Resource Base: Vetted, research-backed materials for multiple age groups

Trade-offs to Consider:

Time Investment: Requires significant planning and preparation time to implement effectively
Facilitation Skills: Effectiveness depends on the facilitator's comfort and skill with sensitive topics
Ongoing Support: You'll need to create your own support systems and troubleshooting resources
Activity Development: Requires creating your own interactive activities and group exercises
Limited Structure: More flexible but less guided than a structured curriculum

The Complete Curriculum - Coming September 2025

While this toolkit provides excellent building blocks, the Safe and Stable Stewards Program transforms resources like this into a comprehensive, structured program:

Step-by-step facilitation guide with scripts and talking points
Interactive activities and exercises designed for group engagement
Peer support and group therapy elements that build community
Optimal for groups of 12 or fewer (can accommodate up to 30 participants)
Trauma-informed facilitation techniques
Built-in support systems for both facilitators and participants
Evidence-based progression that builds skills systematically

Core Resources for Children & Youth

Body Safety & Consent Education

Where Hands Go: An Introduction to Safe and Unsafe Touch Christine Sanders Diggs Ages 3-8 Clear, age-appropriate introduction to body boundaries

Where Hands Go: The Power of No Christine Sanders Diggs Ages 3-8 Empowers children to say no to unwanted touch

The ABCs of Consent Christine Sanders Diggs Ages 4-10 Basic consent concepts in accessible format

My Body Belongs to Me Jill Starishevsky Ages 3-8 Empowers children about body ownership

Something Happened to Me Phyllis E. Sweet Ages 3-8 Helps children process and disclose difficult experiences

Safe Touch Kimberly King Ages 2-6 Simple, clear boundaries education

Consent (Is Not a Funny Word) Rachel Brian Ages 6-12 Covers consent in multiple contexts beyond physical touch

Comprehensive Body & Sexuality Education

Bodies Are Cool Tyler Feder Ages 4-8 Celebrates body diversity and differences

What Makes a Baby Cory Silverberg Ages 3-7 Inclusive of all family types and structures

Sex is a Funny Word: A Book About Bodies, Feelings and You Cory Silverberg Ages 8-12 Comprehensive, inclusive approach to bodies and feelings

Her Body Can Katie Crenshaw Ages 4-8 Celebrates what bodies can do

Say More: Consent Conversations for Teens Kitty Stryker Ages 14+ Comprehensive consent education including digital consent

Digital Safety & Internet Literacy

Cell Phoney Julia Cook Ages 6-10 Age-appropriate lessons about phone and technology use

Good Pictures/Bad Pictures Jr. Kristen A Jensen Ages 3-6 Introduction to online safety for very young children

Good Pictures/Bad Pictures Kristen A Jensen Ages 7-12 Comprehensive guide to protecting children from harmful online content

Video Resources

Online Resources & Websites

Resource Website Age Range Focus Amaze amaze.org Ages 10+ Age-appropriate, inclusive sexual health education Sex Ed to Go Students sexedtogostudents.thinkific.com Ages 14+ Self-paced sexual health education courses Common Sense Media commonsensemedia.org All Ages Age-appropriate media reviews and digital citizenship NetSmartz netsmartz.org Ages 5+ Interactive safety education from National Center for Missing & Exploited Children ConnectSafely connectsafely.org Ages 10+ Comprehensive digital safety guides

For Adults: Creating Safe & Supportive Environments

Essential Reading for Adults

Title Author Focus Content Notes Protecting the Gift Gavin de Becker Safety & Intuition Teaches adults to trust instincts about child safety Predators Gregory M. Weber Predator Awareness Understanding grooming patterns and prevention Boundaries Henry Cloud & John Townsend Relationship Skills Healthy boundaries for adults The Anatomy of Peace The Arbinger Institute Conflict Resolution Healthy relationship skills for adults

Professional Development & Training

Organization Website Focus Notes Darkness to Light d2l.org Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Stewards of Children training program National Center for Missing & Exploited Children missingkids.org Comprehensive Child Safety Evidence-based prevention resources National Child Traumatic Stress Network nctsn.org Trauma-Informed Care Professional resources for working with trauma

Crisis Resources

Resource Contact Available Services RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673 24/7 Crisis support, local referrals Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741 24/7 Crisis support via text National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988 24/7 Mental health crisis support

Implementation Guidance for Adults

Creating Trauma-Informed Environments

Recognize that many children may have experienced trauma
Approach all topics with sensitivity and care
Establish clear safety protocols and reporting procedures
Ensure adults have their own support systems

Age-Appropriate Implementation

Use age ranges as guidelines, but consider individual maturity levels
Preview all materials before use with children
Be prepared to answer questions that arise naturally
Create opportunities for ongoing conversation, not one-time talks

Supporting Adult Caregivers

Remember: To be supportive, adults must feel supported. Consider:

Providing resources for adults' own healing and education
Creating peer support networks for caregivers
Offering training on trauma-informed approaches
Acknowledging that this work can bring up personal experiences

What's Next?

This core toolkit provides the foundation for youth empowerment work. Look for additional affinity packs that address specific community needs:

Black Youth Empowerment Pack: Resources addressing racial identity, anti-racism, and cultural celebration
LGBTQ+ Affirming Pack: Resources supporting gender and sexual diversity
Faith Communities Pack: Scripture-based approaches and faith-compatible resources

This toolkit is freely available as part of Safe and Stable Conditions' commitment to reproductive justice and youth empowerment. For the complete Youth Empowerment Curriculum (available September), ongoing support, and updates on our work, subscribe to our newsletter.

Safe and Stable Conditions - Creating conditions where all people can achieve reproductive freedom through centering humanity, autonomy, and holistic wellness.

Aleigha