Timeline
2007
King Harald of Norway praises the SECOND STEP program in his annual New Year's Eve speech to the nation. The program has become a cornerstone of Norwegian elementary education, and the king calls the application of its principles of respectful treatment a critical aspect of compassionate, civilized societies.
2005–2006
KOMAK, a humanitarian group based in Scandinavia, introduces the SECOND STEP program to children studying in war-torn northern Iraq. Organizers praise the use of the program and its role in the education of Kurdish children, calling the communication skills it fosters "a building block to the formation of a new democracy."
Committee for Children programs are published for the first time within the United Kingdom. An innovative partnership established with the London-based Electric Word establishes "a new level of service for our clients in Great Britain," says Joan Duffell, Partnership Director.
The STEPS TO RESPECT program is revised and re-released.
A longitudinal research study of the STEPS TO RESPECT program finds that the program reduced playground bullying by 25 percent compared to control schools. The results are published in Developmental Psychology.
2003–2004
WOVEN WORD: Early Literacy for Life is released as a new program from Committee for Children.
The TALKING ABOUT TOUCHING personal safety program is implemented system-wide across three Catholic dioceses and is taught in over 4,000 public, private, and parochial schools across the U.S.
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention award the Second Step program "Exemplary" status, making a total of three federal "Exemplary" awards for this program.
The SECOND STEP program is named as the subject of a new longitudinal study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Department of Education.
Segundo Paso, the Spanish-language version of the Second Step program, is revised and re-released.
2001–2002
The third edition of the Preschool through Grade 5 SECOND STEP program is released.
Committee for Children programs are used in schools in Norway, Denmark, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Sweden, and the Philippines.
Researchers at the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning award the SECOND STEP and STEPS TO RESPECT programs high marks.
2000–2001
STEPS TO RESPECT: A Bullying Prevention Program is released.
The SECOND STEP program is rated "Exemplary" by the U.S. Department of Education's 2001 Expert Panel on Safe, Disciplined, and Drug-Free Schools. (Only 9 programs out of 132 received this top rating.)
The TALKING ABOUT TOUCHING program is revised and re-released.
The video Joey Learns the Touching Rule is released.
1998–1999
Committee for Children celebrates its twentieth anniversary.
The SECOND STEP program is described by the White House "1998 Annual Report on School Safety" as a "model program" for school violence prevention.
1997–1998
SECOND STEP materials are introduced in Norway and Germany.
The TALKING ABOUT TOUCHING curriculum reaches 3,000 Filipino children.
Keeping in Step with the SECOND STEP Program and Supporting the SECOND STEP Program training manuals are published.
The PARTNERS project, a program to grant SECOND STEP curricula and staff training to underfunded schools, serves 5,000 elementary students.
The second edition of the SECOND STEP program for Preschool/Kindergarten through Grade 5 is released.
1996–1997
What Do I Say Now? parent-education video is produced to accompany the TALKING ABOUT TOUCHING program.
TALKING ABOUT TOUCHING Preschool/Kindergarten and Grades 1–3 curricula are revised.
The Committee for Children Web site is launched.
A summary of the three-year research study on the impact of the SECOND STEP program, entitled "Effectiveness of a Violence Prevention Curriculum Among Children in Elementary School," is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The SECOND STEP program for Grades 6–8 is revised and renamed SECOND STEP Middle School/Junior High.
1995
Safe by Design books are published.
The family component of the SECOND STEP program for elementary grades, called the SECOND STEP Family Guide, is created.
1994
A three-year study of the impact of the SECOND STEP program on students and teachers is launched.
Committee for Children and Phi Delta Kappa collaborate to conduct Exploring the SECOND STEP Program workshops.
The PARTNERS project is developed to donate programs to a limited number of financially needy schools.
An endowment fund is established.
1993
The SECOND STEP Grades 6–8 curriculum is revised.
The Research and Development department is divided into Research and Evaluation and Program Development.
Regional training is offered.
1992
The SECOND STEP Grades 1–3 and 4–5 curricula are revised.
The fundraising department is dissolved due to strong sales; program sales become primary source of funding.
Segundo Paso Spanish-language supplement to the SECOND STEP program is created for Preschool–Grade 5.
1991
The SECOND STEP Preschool/Kindergarten curriculum is published.
1990
The Facing Up video is produced to help prevent bullying and youth violence.
The SECOND STEP Grades 6–8 curriculum is published with a companion video, Check It Out.
1989
The SECOND STEP Grades 4–5 curriculum is published; videos are produced to accompany the Second Step curriculum.
1988
The Personal Safety and Decision Making and TALKING ABOUT TOUCHING with Preschoolers programs are revised.
A series of abuse-prevention public service announcements is produced for television.
1986
The organization officially changes its name to Committee for Children.
The TALKING ABOUT TOUCHING program is updated and a Spanish-language supplement is created.
The first edition of the SECOND STEP Grades 1–3 curriculum is produced. The committee's goal is summarized as "no more victims, no more victimizers."
1985
The organization produces the Emmy-winning Yes You Can Say No video and a set of three training videos on sexual abuse reporting and prevention, sociocultural and community issues, and personal safety.
Prevention Notes newsletter and Connections journal are published for the first time.
1984
Personal Safety and Decision Making curriculum is created for middle school youth.
1982-1983
Judicial Advocates for Women changes its name to Seattle Institute for Child Advocacy and its mission to preventing child and adolescent victimization.
The TALKING ABOUT TOUCHING program is refocused for Grades 1–5, and a new version is developed for preschool-age children.
Approximately 50 volunteers are trained, and the Volunteer Speakers Bureau, whose purpose is to educate the public about child sexual abuse prevention, is formed.
The TALKING ABOUT TOUCHING program is featured on the Today Show.
1981
Funded by the State of Washington and the Junior League of Seattle, the committee creates the TALKING ABOUT TOUCHING program, a skills-based personal safety curriculum for Kindergarten–Grade 6.
1979
Judicial Advocates for Women forms the Curriculum Review Committee to research sexual abuse prevention. The review committee unofficially refers to itself as the Committee for Children.
1976
Jennifer James establishes Judicial Advocates for Women as a nonprofit and identifies its mission: to educate the public about the realities of prostitution.
1970s
Jennifer James and University of Washington social scientists conduct a research project on youth entrance into prostitution.