Free classes are available in Bonham for adults to learn how to prevent, recognize and report child abuse. The classes are designed for parents, teachers, other school personnel, day care workers, coaches, Sunday school teachers and other professionals and volunteers who work with children.

“Recognizing & Reporting” is a 1.5 hour class that utilizes video, class discussion and case studies. Learning objectives include: the realities of child abuse, detailing who becomes victims, who the likely perpetrators are and the prevalence of abuse in all communities, the legal definitions, signs and symptoms of child abuse, how to communicate with a child who makes a disclosure of abuse, how to make a report and how to overcome one's fear's and barriers around reporting.

This class will be offered twice in early July: Tuesday, July 9 from 5:30 – 7:00 pm and Thursday, July 11 from 12:00 -1:30.

All classes will be held at the Fannin County Children’s Center at 112 West Fifth Street in Bonham. All participants who successfully complete the class will receive a certificate. Thanks to generous donations, there is no charge for the classes. Seating is limited.

To register, contact Tara at the Children’s Center by phone at (903) 583-4339, by email at tara@fanninccc.org or in person at 112 W. 5th in Bonham. Provide your name, which class you want to attend and a contact method (phone and/or email).

To schedule a “Recognizing & Reporting” class on site at your school, church or other youth serving organization, contact Sandy Hood. She can also teach the WHO Program (We Help Ourselves) to children so that they can learn personal safety rules that will encourage them to report child abuse. Contact Hood at sandyh@fanninccc.org or (903) 583-4339.