CAASE Prevention Educators felt the effects of rising attacks on sex education firsthand during the 2022-2023 school year. Despite a continued commitment from Illinois and Chicago Public Schools to provide comprehensive sex education, a looming sense of fear and apprehension from teachers, administrators, and parents persisted. While the current climate around education may be unsettling, it only demonstrates the ongoing importance of CAASE’s prevention workshops. We did not waver in our efforts to empower young people to end sexual harm.  

“Freely given consent is mandatory, every time…Adopt enthusiastic consent in your life and talk about it.”

FRESHMAN AT LAKEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL

Much of the outrage and fear-mongering about sex education relies on a basic misunderstanding of what is happening in the classroom. Our Empowering Youth to End Sexual Exploitation curriculum as well as our single-session workshops provide high school students with a safe space to thoughtfully discuss topics like gender, rape culture, victim blaming, commercial sexual exploitation, and consent. These workshops are facilitated by subject-matter experts who provide accurate, age-appropriate information aligned with Chicago Public Schools’ Sexual Health Education policy as well as many Common Core State Standards, Illinois Social/Emotional Learning Standards, and National Sexuality Education Standards.  

After CAASE Prevention Workshops…

View more details in our Prevention Impact Summary document.

Young people are constantly surrounded by ideas and expectations about sex and sexual harm online, among peers, and at home, but they rarely have the opportunity to speak openly with experts who can correct misinformation and offer judgment-free answers to their questions. Growing hostility around sex education will not keep CAASE from being part of the solution. We’re guiding conversations on how to prevent sexual harm with students who are eager to learn. We delivered workshops to over 3,000 teens across the Chicagoland area during the past academic year. 

“Something I can do to end rape culture is…keep in mind that it can happen to anyone. No matter the gender, no matter what they were wearing, and no matter what they said.”

FRESHMAN AT MATHER HIGH SCHOOL

85% of those students could explain what it means to practice consent and nearly 75% of students could identify at least one thing they could do to end rape culture. Both metrics show an 84% improvement from pre-workshop survey responses. Whether they commit to practicing consent in their own lives, being compassionate towards survivors of sexual violence, changing the language they use, or having meaningful conversations with friends, students leave CAASE workshops ready to help end sexual harm. The road ahead may be daunting, and we know more challenges will arise, but CAASE’s prevention programming works! Our educators will continue having the crucial conversations students are seeking.  

CAASE published this piece on September 12, 2023. It was authored by Sam McCarthy and Hayley Forrestal with editing assistance from Ryan Spooner. Learn more about our staff here.