As our fiscal year comes to an end, we want to take a moment to look back on what YOU have helped Darkness to Light accomplish – primarily, that more children than ever are safe because of your support.

In partnership with thousands of volunteers worldwide, more than 1.7 million adults have been trained to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. Below are some highlights from this year: 

• Fayetteville, NC: The Fayetteville Child Advocacy Center met a 10-year goal by putting Cumberland County, NC over the “tipping point.” The CAC trained 12,470 adults (5% of the county’s adult population) in Stewards of Children®, which is no small feat! We are so grateful for the commitment to the leaders at the CAC and all individuals who joined in to help create a safer community. 

• Butts County, GA: The Georgia Center for Child Advocacy brought their twentieth county to a “tipping point.” The CAC, in partnership with the Butts County Child Abuse Prevention Coalition, trained more than 900 adults in Butts County in Stewards of Children®. They are well on their way to reaching their goal of training 5% of the adult population in every county in Georgia! 
• Prevent 360: Darkness to Light has teamed up with Monique Burr Foundation to focus on the need for both child- and adult-focused child sexual abuse prevention education in a comprehensive approach. This new approach combines child-focused and adult-focused education as part of the larger goals to reduce stigma, influence behavior and change social norms around prevention. Combined, the programs include complimentary language and strategies, so adults and children have a common language to talk about sexual abuse and other types of victimization. The program offers preferred pricing to facilitators of either program, making a comprehensive approach more affordable.  

 

Through education, research, and advocacy, Darkness to Light continues to be a leader in child sexual abuse prevention. As a core value, we work to make courageous decisions that further the prevention conversation. 

• Eastern Bank: Darkness to Light President & CEO Katelyn N. Brewer participated in a panel discussion with Champion Gymnast Aly Raisman and Chair and CEO of Eastern Bank Bob Rivers. The panel was moderated by Boston Globe interim editorial editor Shirley Leung about ways individuals, community organizations, and businesses can support the issue of child sexual abuse. At the end of the panel, Eastern Bank presented a donation of $25,000 to Darkness to Light and committed to making the prevention training available to their employees, a first in the New England business community.  

• Ignite 2018 brought together nearly 200 child advocates to Memphis, TN for Darkness to Light’s second annual National Prevention Conference, presented by the Monique Burr Foundation for Children. For three days, we held advanced training, interactive sessions, and engaged with attendees on a national level to equip, strengthen, and organize their child sexual abuse prevention initiatives.  
• SafeSport Keynote: Katelyn Brewer presented the keynote at the USA Swimming Biennial SafeSport Leadership Conference in Colorado. Brewer presented on nurturing a culture of child safety through leadership and integrated themes of courage, culture change, and lessons learned.  
• Aerie x Aly Raisman Collection: Aly Raisman debuted a new capsule collection of activewear through Aerie, designed to inspire “strength, wellness & mindful living.” Aerie will donate 15% of proceeds (up to $75,000) to her Darkness to Light campaign, #FliptheSwitch. The proceeds will allow any person using the code FLIPTHESWITCH to take Stewards of Children® for free. 

We know this issue knows no bounds, and no community is immune. We are working with our partners internationally to expand the prevention movement.

• Mumbai, India: Filming began on Baccho ke Sanrakshak, the Indian version of Stewards of Children® in partnership with Crossroads Church and Jeevan Adhar. This training modifies the content and learning objectives of Stewards of Children® to an Indian context by selecting, filming, and incorporating diverse Indian child sexual abuse survivors and experts into the Stewards of Children® film. 

• International trainings: Facilitator workshops were held for the first time in South Korea, Japan, and Germany, expanding our reach to tackle this global issue with international partners.  

This year we have seen the national conversation around sexual abuse grow. With our partners, we pledge to continue to elevate the national dialogue around child sexual abuse.  

• The Boston Globe – Aly Raisman, at odds with USA Gymnastics, isn’t backing down 
• Refinery 29 – Why Child Sexual Abuse Survivors May Defend Their Abusers 
• TODAY – 7 Ways Parents Can Protect Kids from Child Sexual Abuse 
• The Seattle Times – What Parents Can Learn from the Boy Scouts Child Sexual Abuse Crisis 

 

Follow us on social media to stay up to date and join the conversation.

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