Executive Director Dr. Jack Powell announced the appointment of Michelle Linden Mates to the Smart Steps Program Specialist position at Chaucie’s Place where she will focus on development of curricula and assessment.
Mates
Mates is new to the Program Specialist position, but not to Chaucie’s Place, having served as an intern during spring semester 2017. She is currently enrolled at IUPUI in the Master of Social Work program with an anticipated graduation date of May 2018. She has wide-ranging experience in education having served as a teacher in Noblesville Schools and earning a Master’s degree in education from Ball State and a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Butler University.
In reaction to the appointment she stated, “I consider my job an honor. Working to empower our most cherished population is an awesome undertaking. It is critical that children are allowed to grow up in a safe environment and are able to meet their greatest potential. I welcome the opportunity to develop and deliver curriculum that provides children with the knowledge needed to help protect themselves.”
Chaucie’s Place is a nonprofit child advocacy organization that works to prevent child sexual abuse and youth suicide through prevention programs for children, adults and school systems.
Smart Steps: A Body Safety Program for Children™ is a child sexual abuse prevention and education program that teaches elementary school-aged children that their bodies belong to them, they have the right to say “NO!” to unwanted touches from anyone, to tell an adult about any touches that make them uncomfortable and we assure students that abuse is never, ever their fault.
For more information on Chaucie’s Place, please visit www.chauciesplace.org and ‘like’ them at www.facebook.com/ChauciesPlace.