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\"There is absolutely a connection between the behaviors and choices that we normalize in our families and our communities and schools and the choices and behaviors that people make as adults and in their workplaces and on their college campuses,\" Laura Palumbo, communications director for the NSVRC, told \"GMA.\"

\"In this moment of greater cultural awareness around the prevalence of sexual harassment and assault, you can keep stepping back and so much of experiences of abuse or patterns of abusive behavior are actually starting in either the home, school or community when children are young,\" she said. \"Either by the behaviors they're seeing normalized or the lessons they're not learning.\"

Local resource centers that work with the NSVRC are often met with resistance when trying to work with school districts to develop a curriculum on consent, according to Palumbo. The resource centers and groups like NSVRC emphasize that consent is not just about sex but about healthy relationships and boundaries, and can be taught at any age.

\"Practicing consent in everyday situations is really important for kids of all ages,\" said Palumbo. \"It's showing them their rights to set limits and boundaries and their rights to respect the limits and boundaries of others.\"

\"It's also teaching them that it's OK to hear 'no' from someone, it's OK to experience rejection, and when you hear a 'no,' your next step is to accept the answer and move on,\" she said. \"It's not to ask again or pressure them to change their mind.\"

What if you want to kiss someone, but you aren’t sure how they’d feel?
When you want to get close to someone it’s important to know how to ask for consent.
Learn the basics of #consent: https://t.co/ar4xmZ2umD #IAsk #SAAM pic.twitter.com/uQrhbmIfqK

— National Sexual Violence Resource Center (@NSVRC) April 9, 2019

Both the NSVRC and RAINN offer resource guides for teaching about consent.

\"The important thing for parents to know is that at every stage from birth there are age-appropriate ways you can be setting the stage for your child to understand the concepts of consent and respect and to have the healthiest relationships possible as they grow,\" said Palumbo. \"Even in parents' everyday interactions with their child, they're modeling that respect of listening, validating choices, accepting and respecting boundaries and that is such an important foundation.\"

If you or someone you know experienced sexual assault and is seeking resources, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

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