RUMFORD – A new program aimed at teaching children the difference between a kind and caring adult and one who may cause them harm is about to begin in SAD 43’s two elementary schools.

Andrea Bowen, guidance counselor at Rumford Elementary School, told the SAD 43 board this week that the schools have adopted a program called Child Lures Prevention: Think First and Stay Safe.

“This will help children outsmart some predatory lures used on our children,” she said.

While the program teaches caution and refusal skills, she said the program also teaches children to recognize those who can help them, the difference between safe and unsafe touch, how to say no, and related topics.

Superintendent Jim Hodgkin said he receives referrals to the Department of Health and Human Services for kindergarten-through-grade-12 students about every two or three weeks.

Bowen said the need for the program came from questions asked by students and from the number of referrals made.

A special informational night will be held soon to present the program to parents, Bowen said.

Grades kindergarten through two will receive five lessons in five consecutive days. Resources will be made available for each teacher and Bowen and Meroby Elementary School guidance counselor David Walton will be in the classroom.

Walton said pupils in grades three to five will receive two weeks of Child Lures Prevention instruction.

“We are seeing this happening in the schools at young ages. This isn’t about whether we want to do it, but we have to,” Hodgkin said.

Children will be seen by one of the two counselors at times throughout the year to follow up on any problems.

While the program helps youngsters recognize adults who may want to do them harm, Walton said the two counselors chose the child lure program because it “doesn’t make everybody out to be a bad guy.”

Kathy Sutton, health coordinator for the district, said funding for the new instruction comes from Safe and Drug Free Schools money.