The Monique Burr Foundation for Children, Inc. (MBF) has updated its bullying, child abuse prevention education, and cyberbullying program, MBF Child Safety Matters^TM, to adapt to today’s rapidly evolving world of technology.  The program educates and empowers elementary school students and adults with easy-to-use informational tools and strategies to prevent bullying, cyberbullying, digital abuse and all forms of child abuse and exploitation. The research-based curriculum targets students first through fifth grades and is offered at no cost to Florida’s public elementary schools.

MBF Child Safety Matters^TM, which is part of the Governor’s Five-Year Strategic Plan 2010-2015, is a research-based, primary prevention education curriculum reviewed and supported by respected education and prevention experts. The program meets the requirements of more than 90 Next Generation Sunshine State Standards, the updated Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Anti Bullying Act and the Statute 39, the Child Abuse Prevention Training Act of 1985.

“MBF Child Safety Matters^TM was created with input from schools to ensure the program is practical, fun for students, involves parents and other relevant adults and is research-based from experts,” said Lynn Layton, executive director of the Monique Burr Foundation for Children.  “The Monique Burr Foundation for Children has provided safety and child abuse education to thousands of children with a goal to ultimately educate every child in Florida’s elementary schools.”

MBF Child Safety Matters^TM is currently approved in 53 out of 67 counties in Florida, training more 1,200 school facilitators and will reach more than 425,000 students by the end of this school year. The Jacksonville-based nonprofit organization receives its financial support through special events, grants and individual charitable donations, including Wells Fargo Foundation and Compass Consulting Group.

For more information about this critical safety program, as well as bullying and child abuse prevention, visit www.moniqueburrfoundation.org.