(a) The Department of Education shall select or develop:

• (1) curricula for pupils concerning family violence that are appropriate for various ages;
• (2) curricula for school counselors, health-care personnel, administrators and teachers concerning family violence; and
• (3) curricula for Department of Public Works Bus Operations employees.

(b) The curricula must be selected or developed in consultation with public and private agencies that provide programs for victims of family violence and programs of intervention for perpetrators of family violence, advocates for victims, non-profit family violence coalitions or organizations, persons who have demonstrated expertise and experience in education and family violence, and the Family Violence Task Force.

(c) The curricula must include, but are not limited to:

• (1) the nature, extent and causes of family violence;
• (2) issues of family violence concerning children;
• (3) the prevention of the use of violence by children;
• (4) sensitivity to cultural, racial and gender issues;
• (5) violence in dating and other social relationships of boys and girls;
• (6) practices designed to promote safety of the victim and other family and household members, including safety plans;
• (7) legal reporting requirements concerning abuse or neglect of children; and
• (8) the lethality of family violence.

The content Standard are grouped into eight areas: core concepts (health promotion and disease prevention), analyzing influences, accessing information, interpersonal communication, decision making, goal setting, self management, and advocacy skills.

Guam’s prior Standard were organized and named by topic areas. The topics were: Family Life (Sexuality Education), Nutrition, Personal Health (Prevention and Control of Disease, Consumer Health), Community Health, Environmental Health, Mental/Emotional Health, Injury Prevention and Safety, and Substance Use and Abuse. These topic areas have not been eliminated but have been incorporated throughout the Standard, as is evident in the content. What is new about the revised Standard is the organization by skill set as a framework.

The Sex Abuse Treatment Center’s (SATC) decision to develop curricula on sexual violence prevention stems from a steadfast commitment to protect children from the serious consequences of sexual victimization. Since 1976, the SATC has served thousands of victims of sexual assault, both young and old, and it is to these courageous and resilient survivors that these curricula are dedicated. The lesson plans in all the curriculums meet the Hawai‘i Content Performance Standard (HCPS) III for health education.

The Guam Department of Education, with the support and assistance of the LaniKate Task Force implements this school curricula on child sexual abuse prevention in compliance with the mandates provided for in Public Law 31-097:1, enacted on September 30, 2011. The decision to integrate this curriculum in Guam’s school system stems from the steadfast commitment to protect children in our community from the serious consequences of sexual victimization, and to provide them with fundamental knowledge that will help them to make healthier choices so they may live a healthy lifestyle. This curricula also places some focus on online predators and cyberbullying, which coincides with the mandates under P.L.31-009:9, which requires the school system to develop a process for discussing the “harassment, intimidation, or bullying” and “cyberbullying” policy with pupils as part of the curriculum.

The [respect] curriculum for high school students is part of a comprehensive sexual violence prevention curricula for students in grades K through 12. The high school curriculum teaches how to:

• Recognize and respond to sexually abusive behavior
• Access help if victimized
• Respect others’ personal boundaries and communicate appropriately to avoid behaving in sexually abusive ways
• Assert boundaries to reduce the risk of victimization
• Advocate for safe, respectful relationships

Each of the six high school lessons incorporate Guam Department of Education’s Core Concepts Standard for health education. The health topic areas addressed include: Promoting Safety and Preventing Violence and Unintentional Injury; Personal Health & Wellness; and Mental and Emotional Health.