2. Training
  3. Training for Caregivers & Community Members

Training for Caregivers & Community Members

We customize trainings to your community's specific needs. Trainings may be held at the CAC or offsite, and many of our trainings for community members are offered free of charge. For questions about scheduling a workshop in your community, please contact the CAC’s Training Program Manager, Erica Chepulis, at Erica.L.Chepulis@mass.gov. You can also request a training with this form:


Request Training


Parenting Safe Children (1.5-2 hours) 

In this workshop, learn how to identify when an adult may be “grooming” a child for sexual abuse, signs of sexual abuse in children, and what to do when you suspect a child is being sexually abused. Participants will practice responding to disclosures and learn how the CAC can provide support. Participants will also learn how to protect children from sexual abuse by talking with children about boundaries and body safety, and monitoring children’s relationships with others.

Recognizing and Responding to Child Abuse (1-1.5 hours)

Most children do not tell someone when they’re being abused or neglected. Adults have a responsibility to identify and respond appropriately to any suspicions of child maltreatment. In this training, participants will learn about different forms of child abuse and neglect, how to recognize warning signs, how to respond to a disclosure, and how to get help for the child.

Exploitation in the Virtual World (1.5-2 hours)

This training provides an overview of what youth are seeing and experiencing in the virtual world, how caregivers/community members can help keep youth safe, and what to do if a child has experienced online exploitation. Participants will learn about:

  • Sexual development and exposure to the virtual world, including sexually explicit content and pornography
  • Recognizing online exploitation, including online grooming and sextortion
  • Risky behaviors in adolescence, such as sexting and non-consensual image sharing, and how perpetrators take advantage of these behaviors
  • Preventing and responding to online exploitation, as well as how to talk to youth about this issue

Understanding Children’s Sexual Behavior (1-1.5 hours) 

When children display sexual behaviors, it can be difficult to gauge the level of concern and know how to best respond. This workshop will provide an overview of typical sexual development, discuss what sexual behaviors are reasons for concern, and offer suggestions on how caregivers can intervene effectively.

Stop, Block, and Talk: Empowering Kids to Stay Safe while Using Technology (1.5-2 hours)

Stop, Block, and Talk teaches kids a simple but memorable way to use websites, apps, and games in the smartest and safest way possible. In this workshop, participants will learn:

  • What are kids posting and how can it affect their future?
  • What kinds of pressures do kids face?
  • What are the risks associated with commonly used apps, sites, and games?
  • How can kids reduce their risk through the Stop, Block, and Talk framework and by applying safety settings?
  • How common is sexting? What is sextortion and how does it happen?
  • What is the law pertaining to these issues in MA?