PREVENTION

A child's safety is an adult's job.  Children are often taught how to keep themselves safe from sexual abuse, and that's important for them to learn; however, that's no substitute for adult responsibility.  There are some simple things you can do to protect children - learn the facts about abuse and understand the risks; minimize opportunities for abuse to take place; talk openly with your children about protection and not keeping secrets; have a plan with your child about what to do should something happen; and, act on your suspicions.

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Only 1 in 10 children report sexual abuse, and they typically endure that abuse for up to 6 months before they make an outcry.  Your involvement in protecting children could make the difference in abuse occurring at all!

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At this time, we do not have any scheduled training events for community members, but we'll be happy to design a training to suit you or your agency's need for prevention education. Contact ivyc@pauldingcac.org for more information.

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We recommend Darkness To Light's Stewards of Children training curriculum. You can find in-person trainings on their website as well as some online/virtual options.

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Stewards of Children's Training Features:

• Delivered in a trauma-informed way by instructors and facilitators who have been rigorously trained

• Features powerful videos paired with robust facilitated discussion

• Teaches three foundational empowerment skills:

  • Making choices that protect children

  • Taking risks to minimize danger to children

  • Supporting each other

• Highlights The 5 Steps to Protecting Children™ and how to apply them to better protect children from child sexual abuse