Darkness to Light presented our national awards at our National Prevention Conference, Ignite 2018.
We are grateful for the amazing partners that work tirelessly in their communities to protect children from sexual abuse. From dedicating their evenings and weekends to trainings, to promoting prevention throughout their everyday conversations, to standing up for children no matter the situation, our Authorized Facilitators are the heart and soul of Darkness to Light. They embody the core values of Darkness to Light. Together, we have trained more than 1.6 million adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse, across 50 states and 22 countries.
During Ignite 2018, Darkness to Light recognized individuals who have gone above and beyond to further the mission of ending child sexual abuse. Awards presented included Instructor of the Year, Facilitator of the Year, and the Partner in Prevention Leadership Award. The recipient of each award has committed their time and energy to a grassroots prevention movement and has accomplished meaningful progress in their community.
Instructor of the Year
Denise Uhl-Jenkins, from Dayton, OH, has been involved with Darkness to Light since 2007 and was a vital member of the Stewards of Children® advisory group. Denise has trained an astonishing 10,000+ adults in Stewards of Children®, more than any other individual Authorized Facilitator or Certified Instructor. Since becoming a Certified Instructor in 2010, she has trained 239 Authorized Facilitators in communities across Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Arizona. Denise sets the bar high for what a dedicated and compassionate child sexual abuse prevention advocate should be, training incarcerated women and homeless shelter residents. Denise is the outreach and awareness specialist at CARE House Children’s Advocacy Center in Dayton, OH.
Facilitator of the Year
Since becoming an Authorized Facilitator in 2017, Sarah Ortiz has trained 2,682 adults in Stewards of Children®, more than any other Darkness to Light Authorized Facilitator in 2017. Sarah, who works with the Center for Children in La Plata, MD, focuses on training educators at schools across the state of Maryland. Through her work, Sarah is truly creating a safer world for children in her community.
Partner in Prevention LEADERSHIP Award
Sarah Bright became an Authorized Facilitator in 2017 and coordinates prevention and awareness efforts at the Kids’ HOPE Center in Coos Bay, OR. Sarah has led 27 organizations in Oregon to become a Partner in Prevention, ensuring they have trained 90% of their staff in child sexual abuse prevention, conducted background checks on all staff and volunteers, and have a code of conduct in place. From educational organizations to pediatric clinics to government agencies, Sarah is working to make sure all organizations are safe for kids. That is truly amazing!
Do you have a drive to prevent abuse and protect kids? Darkness to Light Authorized Facilitators teach adults how to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse and talk openly about child sexual abuse to engage adults in their organizations and communities. If you are interested in learning more, check out the qualifications here.
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