The CARE Model™

Youth deserve CARE in Action.

Built with and for educators, school staff, students, administrators, and researchers to address obligations you already carry, including;

Erin's Law (Bill 123, 2024) requires boards to establish a policy under which students are taught about child sexual abuse, developmentally appropriately, across grades. CARE and the Responding to Disclosures Toolkit are explicitly built to help boards meet these obligations.

PPM 166 asks boards to develop protocols for prevention, identification, response and community coordination. Our disclosure protocols and referral ecosystem map onto the response and coordination requirements.

The CARE Model™ is for adults in a position of professional authority and/or trust, such as a teacher, administrative leader, parent, caregiver or kin who has received a disclosure of peer-to-peer sexual harassment or sexual assault from a student in high school. It is a support-first approach to responding to harm developed with social workers, educators, students, parents and caregivers.

Download the CARE Guide

What are the steps of The CARE Model™?

The CARE Model infographic explaining steps for adults in positions of trust to handle disclosures of peer-to-peer sexual harassment or assault in high school, including steps to center the student, acknowledge roles, refer to resources, and extend care.

The CARE Model™ is for adults in a position of professional authority and/or trust, such as a teacher, administrative leader, parent, caregiver or kin who has received a disclosure of peer-to-peer sexual harassment or sexual assault from a student in high school.

  • Take a breath. Ground yourself before you respond. Your calm helps them feel safe.

  • Be clear about your responsibilities. You are not their friend. Depending on what they share, you may be required to report.

  • Make them feel safe and heard first. Then connect them to expert support.

  • Disclosures impact you, too. Talk to someone you trust and make time for your own care.