Representative Linehan told the Cheshire board that a 2022 law (Public Act 22-87) requires schools to distribute a grooming and child sexual-abuse prevention fact sheet annually to board members, teachers and parents, and she said the material had not been widely distributed in recent years.

Linehan said the statute’s implementing materials — a fact sheet prepared by the governor’s task force on abused children — should be sent electronically to the required recipients but cautioned against sending only a link. She asked that superintendents hold a conversation with staff so adults understand the subject matter, and she offered the board a highlighted copy of Public Act 22-87 and the grooming fact sheet at the meeting.

Why this matters: Linehan said early education of adults about recognition and intervention is essential; she noted data collection via youth-risk surveys will begin to track prevalence. She also cited research showing repeat offenders may have multiple victims before detection, underscoring the importance of broad adult awareness.

Ending: The representative distributed the fact sheet and asked the board to implement annual distribution and staff conversations required under the law.