BOSTON, MA / CHARLESTON, SC (March 7, 2018) – Aly Raisman today announced a new partnership with Darkness to Light, the nation’s leading advocate for the prevention of child sexual abuse, to provide immediate support to the gymnastics community and to begin work on a comprehensive program to help young athletes everywhere participate in a safe and abuse-free environment.
The partnership was inspired by the many people who have voiced concern to Raisman about the lack of support and attention being devoted to the issue of sexual abuse within the sport, particularly at the grassroots level. Adult education is vital to athlete safety, and Raisman and Darkness to Light are committed to “Flip the Switch” on abuse in youth sports. The #FlipTheSwitch campaign calls for all adults involved in youth sports to complete Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children® training, which is widely recognized as the leading, evidenced-informed child sexual abuse prevention program in the country.
“To address this terrible problem, we all need to be willing to confront it head-on,” said Raisman. “Sexual abuse is something that needs to be discussed openly—especially now — given the challenges our sport is facing, and all adults should become educated as to how to prevent it. Ignoring the issue, in hopes that it goes away, is unacceptable. Athlete safety must be the highest priority.”
One in 10 children will experience sexual abuse before their 18th birthday, which Darkness to Light estimates there are 42 million adult survivors in the United States. To date, Stewards of Children® has trained more than 1.5 million adults in 50 states and 17 countries, but unfortunately, relatively few adults within the gymnastics community have completed the program.
“The recent events surrounding USA Gymnastics has shown that we must direct a bright spotlight on this issue that for too long has been shrouded in darkness and stigma,” stated Katelyn Brewer, President and CEO of Darkness to Light. “Sexual abuse prevention is the responsibility of all adults, not children. We are privileged to be working with Aly on addressing this silent epidemic. Aly has made it very clear to us that this needs to happen immediately, and she has committed her support to make the online program free to all participants who use the FLIPTHESWITCH code.”
To jumpstart the campaign, Raisman is challenging parents, coaches, and all other adults involved in youth sports across the country to visit www.fliptheswitchcampaign.org, use the VIP code FLIPTHESWITCH, complete the program, and become trained to protect children.
Raisman’s message is clear. “Please, join me in this effort to make sport safer by completing this important program, as I have done. I will personally sign each and every certificate of completion. It is so important for this to happen now. By acting together, we can change the culture of sport.”
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I was just wondering if Aly is a trained facilitator since she’s signing the certificates?
Hi Gwin! Aly is not an Authorized Facilitator. She will be signing the online certificates, for the online training there is not a Facilitator signature. Thanks!
This was an awesome training program. I will definitely recommend it to friends especially those who work with children or have children who are athletes. There was so much I didn’t realize that could’ve happened, when people you trust your child with takes up a facade as a caring adult, only to do things in the dark with a child that will harm them. Now I know better. And the many signs that shows when a child has been abused is most helpful whether it is physical, emotional or mental signs. Every adult figure who cares for children, will now be able to detect those red flags. I give these abuse courses . It’s well worth the couple straight hours of everyone’s time.
Aly Raisman, thank you for your support of this program. We must get parents, coaches, educators, , friends, neighbors to take this training. I took the class yesterday and it has been enlightening. I will take this knowledge back to my community to keep children safe. This has been long overdue in the world of athletics in particular. Thank you for advocating for other children, Ms. Raisman!
I saw Alt Raisman’s Darkness to Light documentary on Lifetime and found it very enlightening.
As a former domestic violence abuse counselor (laid off because of the pandemic), I don’t feel as if colleges and universities prepare counselors and therapists enough to help survivors of sexual abuse in their recovery journey. Along with being uneducated, there is also standard of care, which differs from state to state, especially in rural areas and underserved populations. In the agencies I’ve worked for in the past, they were woefully inadequate and often misguided when it came to treating sexual abuse trauma, which is also seen in many cases where there is domestic violence. So I sincerely hope media attention can shed light on treating professionals and treatment facilities who might be doing more harm than good.