The Monique Burr Foundation for Children, Inc. (MBF) commended Florida lawmakers for passing HB519, legislation that will provide comprehensive, age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate K-12 prevention health education instruction in all Florida schools.
The law amends Florida Statute 1003.42, expanding and clarifying existing law with additional requirements for health education with an emphasis on prevention education. According to research, 95% of child sexual abuse is preventable with education. The legislation takes effect July 1.
The bill provides health education instruction that addresses the prevention of child sexual abuse, exploitation and human trafficking. The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Clay Yarborough, Jacksonville, and Sen. Aaron Bean, Fernandina Beach.
“We are grateful to all of Florida's lawmakers, Attorney General Ashley Moody, and Gov. Ron DeSantis for their ongoing support of prevention education,” said Lynn Layton, MBF president and CEO. “While many schools across Florida are implementing prevention education, the legislation clearly defines the requirements and quality to ensure all students in Florida will receive the same comprehensive, research-based prevention education to address all forms of childhood abuse.”
MBF can assist schools with programs to meet these changes at no cost through a generous grant provided by Florida's Attorney General. MBF Prevention Education Programs are a series of comprehensive, evidence-based/evidence-informed prevention programs that educate and empower children and teens with strategies to prevent, recognize, and respond appropriately to bullying, cyberbullying, online dangers, child abuse, exploitation, and child trafficking. In response to requirements established in 2019 by the Florida Department of Education, MBF has also added MBF Mental Health Matters and lessons on substance abuse prevention. To date, MBF has trained more than 5,000 facilitators who have delivered MBF Child Safety Matters and MBF Teen Safety Matters lessons to more than 5 million students across the United States and three countries.
In the 2020-21 school year, MBF will reach even more students with the expansion of new programs, MBF Athlete Safety Matters and MBF After-School Safety Matters. For more information, go to
www.mbfpreventioneducation.org or call (904) 642-0210.
