In teaching our youth about our 
Catholic Faith, we have been called to a ministry. It is a ministry that embodies the mission of Christ in caring for our youth and caring for one another. We 
have not only been called to teach our youth about our Catholic faith but to 
do so in a space that is a safe, and a space that allows our youth to form a 
relationship with God.
 
As a result the Archdiocese of Seattle would like to take this opportunity to educate our youth and give them the tools they need to protect themselves from those who may harm them. In creating a safe space for our youth, we can teach and show them the ways of Christ in a safe environment conducive to learning. Keeping our minors and vulnerable adult’s safe starts with you.
 
This Spring, St. Andrew Parish will provide one sexual abuse prevention course to your youth. For children in the Sunday morning Faith Formation Program (grades K-5), the instruction will be offered in the classrooms from 9:30 -10:30 AM on March 5th, 2017. Middle school youth will have their lesson also on March 5th during their normal meeting time. For high school youth, it will take place on March 12th during youth group. This lesson has been integrated into the religious task and essential concepts taught within Faith Formation as to seem as natural as possible while being most effective for our youth in the context of abuse prevention.
 
Please understand that your child is being given a lesson about sexual abuse prevention, not sex education. While these topics do have similar names, they are completely different subject matter. Sexual abuse prevention courses teach and give our youth the tools they need to protect themselves from those who may try to harm them. Sex Education is curriculum designed to examine issues relating to human sexuality, including relations, responsibility, sexual anatomy, sexual activity, reproduction, etc.
 
To help you understand what your youth will be offered, we ask you to visit: http://www.seattlearchdiocese.org/SEP/faithformation.aspx. This will provide you with “Parent/ Guardian Resources,” to inform you about the curriculum being used while also making available the actual lessons.
 
As the guardian, you have the right to opt your child/youth out of this lesson. You may do so by clicking on the link “Opting Out.” You will need to fill out this form with your Catechetical Leader.