April 8, 2026 

Dear Colleagues,

Each April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month are opportunities to recommit to creating environments where every young person in Oregon is safe, supported, and able to thrive. From implementation of the Health Education Standards, Erin’s Law, the Healthy Teen Relationships Act, and Transformative Social Emotional Learning, to the work of School Safety and Prevention system across the state, educators and school staff collectively strengthen safe, supportive learning environments for all students. 

Comprehensive health and sexuality education is a central part of the prevention landscape in Oregon. When students learn to identify and communicate their safety and health needs, practice setting and respecting boundaries, understand rights to bodily autonomy, and recognize what safe and equitable relationships look and feel like, they develop lifelong skills that reduce sexual assault and abuse. These skills begin in kindergarten and build across grade levels. 

Real prevention is a long-term commitment to building communities rooted in respect, connection, and belonging. Research shows that key approaches include:

• Promoting healthy norms and confronting harmful beliefs, often about gender, through upstander intervention, peer learning, and engaging men and boys as allies in prevention.
• Teaching skills that foster healthy relationships through social-emotional learning and healthy relationships education.
• Creating protective environments by improving safe and inclusive school climates and enforcing clear safety policies.
• Empowering and engaging students and communities through leadership opportunities and access to resources.
• Supporting victims and survivors by expanding access to trauma-informed care, safe reporting options, and early intervention services.

By working on these strategies together, across sectors, we move closer to an Oregon where all young people experience safety, belonging, and the ability to flourish.

Header photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash, Newberg, OR.

Section illustration by Prevent Child Abuse Oregon.

Menstrual Dignity Grant Updates

Grant agreements for the 2025–27 Menstrual Dignity program have been sent to school districts, ESDs, and charter schools. Please follow the instructions and tips below to access grant funds:

1. Districts and schools must first return a signed copy of their grant agreement to ODE. If your grant is currently marked as “On Hold” in Electronic Grant Management System (EGMS), this typically indicates that ODE has not yet received your signed agreement. Once the signed agreement is received and processed, funds will be released in EGMS. 
2. The spending period (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027) is now underway. As expenses are incurred, complete the 2025–27 Reimbursement and Participation Form on a rolling basis. All submissions are due no later than August 14, 2027. 
3. After both steps are complete: (1) grant agreement is fully executed and (2) reimbursement form has been submitted, please submit a corresponding claim in EGMS to receive reimbursement.

 For questions or support, please contact ode.menstrual-dignity@ode.oregon.gov.

2025-27 Reimbursement Form

Apply Now: Substance Use Prevention Advisory Group

ODE is seeking applicants for its Substance Use Prevention Advisory Group. This group will begin meeting in the 2026-2027 school year and will provide ODE with guidance and strategic input related to school-based substance use prevention and intervention. Applications are due no later than May 10th, 2026 at 5pm PT. 

ODE is seeking diverse members to join the Advisory Group who represent a variety of perspectives, including but not limited to:   

• K-12 educators and other school-based staff supporting youth substance use prevention 
• State and local prevention professionals 

• Representatives from community-based organizations

• Parent(s) and guardian(s) of a student(s) attending an Oregon K-12 and/or a student with lived experience with substance use 

• School district, ESD, and charter school administrators  

• Substance use prevention, intervention, and recovery experts (researchers, national organization representatives, clinicians, etc.) 

To apply, complete the application form below. If you prefer to apply by phone call, video call, written letter, or to request translation services or accommodations, please reach out to the ODE Substance Use Prevention Education Coordinator at ode.substance-prevention@ode.oregon.gov or call 503-580-0827.  

Click here to apply