New Animated Adventure Teaches Body Safety in Fun, Accessible Format
Premier children’s book Sis & Me: Down By the Sea turned into animated video
Peoria, Ill. – The beloved characters of Sis & Me: Down by the Sea are making waves in a whole new way—now as animated characters! The Center for Prevention of Abuse (CFPA) is excited to announce the launch of this engaging and educational animated video, designed to teach children essential lessons about body safety, boundaries, and healthy relationships.
This fresh format builds on the success of the original Sis & Me: Down by the Sea children’s book, first published in 2020. Since its release, the book has become an integral part of CFPA’s body safety curriculum. The animated adaptation takes the story to the next level, engaging young viewers in a dynamic, multi-sensory experience. It brings the charming, relatable characters of Sis & Me to life, guiding children through a fun-filled day at the beach with special visitors. Along the way, the animation thoughtfully addresses essential concepts of personal safety, consent, and respect in an age-appropriate and accessible way.
“We are thrilled to bring Sis & Me: Down by the Sea into the digital age with this new animated format,” said Carol Merna, Chief Executive Officer at the Center for Prevention of Abuse. “By expanding into video, we’re able to connect with children in a more compelling, entertaining way on crucial topics, while also making these important messages more accessible to students, schools, educators, and parents.”
The animated video will be available to schools and community organizations, as well as to the general public through CFPA’s website and social media channels. Sis & Me: Down by the Sea is designed to be both engaging and educational, helping children understand how to identify safe and unsafe touches, the importance of speaking up when something feels wrong, and how to seek help when needed.
In addition to promoting body safety, the animated series highlights CFPA’s ongoing commitment to helping all people live free from violence and abuse. As an organization that serves survivors of abuse, CFPA is dedicated to reaching audiences in diverse formats, ensuring the message is heard across all platforms.
The Sis & Me: Down by the Sea animated video is officially available online at centerforpreventionofabuse.org/sisandme/. Educators, parents, and caregivers are encouraged to incorporate the video into their own safety and prevention programming to empower children with the tools they need to stay safe. The Sis & Me: Down by the Sea cartoon was created with funding supported by Leader Jehan Gordon-Booth and the Illinois Department of Human Services.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Celsy Young
cyoung@centerforpreventionofabuse.org
Center for Prevention of Abuse / 309.272.2904
About the Center for Prevention of Abuse
The Center for Prevention of Abuse (CFPA) is the only agency authorized by the State of Illinois to provide a combination of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual abuse, human trafficking, and adult protective services for survivors of abuse. Annually, CFPA serves nearly 6,000 people affected by violence and abuse. CFPA offers school-based abuse prevention programming to students pre-K through college age, reaching more than 41,000 young people each year. Through these activities, plus community presentations and trainings, CFPA lives out its mission to help all people live free from violence and abuse. For more information about CFPA, visit www.centerforpreventionofabuse.org or call 309-691-0551. The crisis line is available 24/7 1-800-559-SAFE (7233) and all victim services are free and confidential.
