Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES secured funding to provide curriculum and resources to area school districts to support the prevention of child abduction.

The $40,000 Child Abduction Prevention Education grant, one of seven state awards through the State Education Department, will be used to develop or implement curriculum and training programs designed for K-8 students, parents, teachers, school librarians and support staff to aid in the prevention of child abduction. The grant was secured through the E2CCB Regional Grant Co-Ser service, a consortium that represents each of the E2CCB school districts.

E2CCB provides services for schools in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Southern Erie counties and includes the districts of Bemus Point, Brocton, Cassadaga Valley, Chautauqua Lake, Clymer, Dunkirk, East Aurora, Eden, Falconer, Forestville, Fredonia, Frewsburg, Gowanda, Holland, Iroquois, Jamestown, Lake Shore, North Collins, Orchard Park, Panama, Pine Valley, Ripley, Sherman, Silver Creek, Southwestern, Springville-Griffith and Westfield. State Education Law requires public schools to provide courses of study in prevention of child abduction to all student in grades K-8.

The State Education Department awarded a total of $160,000, including $40,000 for Newark Central School District consortium; $40,000 for North-Rose Wolcott consortium; and $10,000 each for the Buffalo City School, Rochester City School, Schenectady City School and Springs Union Free School districts.

Professional learning resources, curriculum, online learning courses or materials created with grant funds will be published on the E2CCB website to be freely shared with other districts.