1 in 10 children are sexually abused before age 18. The Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Coalition wants you to learn 5 steps to protect your child!
Sexual abuse robs children of their innocence and dignity. Unfortunately, this epidemic affects 1 in 10 children before the age 18. The Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Coalition of Northeast Florida (CSAPC) fights to protect ALL children by preventing child sexual abuse.
The mission of the CSAPC is to prevent child sexual abuse through awareness initiatives and training for adults, including the delivery of the Darkness to Light, Stewards of Children® program in Northeast Florida. The CSAPC seeks to empower an unprecedented preventative action movement to protect children from sexual abuse. CSAPC’s goal is to reach the “tipping point” in Northeast Florida by training 50,000 adults (approximately 5% of our regional adult population) with the Darkness to Light (D2L), Stewards of Children program. Tipping Point theory refers to the phenomenon that when a social movement crosses a certain threshold, it will gain significant momentum, making behavior change much easier and likely.
D2L is a national nonprofit organization that provides individuals, organizations, and communities with the tools to protect children from sexual abuse. Stewards of Children is a 2-hour prevention program created by D2L that teaches adults how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. The program is designed for use by organizations that serve youth, and for individuals concerned about the safety of children. It is the only nationally distributed, evidence-informed program proven to increase knowledge, improve attitudes, and change child protective behaviors.
The statistics and effects of child sexual abuse are staggering. Here are some facts you may not know (statistics provided by Darkness to Light):
- 90% of child sexual abuse victims know their abuser. 30% are family members, 60% are by people the family trusts.
- Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assault (including assaults on adults) occur to children ages 17 and under. Youths have higher rates of sexual assault victimization than do adults.
- Those who molest children look just like everyone else.
- As many as 40% of children who are sexually abused, are abused by older, more powerful children.
- 9 is the median age of a child who is sexually abused.
- Most children do not tell anyone that they are sexually abused in time to stop the abuse.
- False reports are very rare. As many as 96% of reports are valid.
- Abusers often form relationships with the victim and family prior to the abuse, called “grooming.”
You CAN learn how to protect your child and lower these statistics. The Stewards of Children program is taught in group sessions, or online (in English and Spanish). It teaches the 5 steps to protect children through interactive discussion, intense and uplifting survivor testimonies, and workbook questions.
“This training opened my eyes to the reality of child sexual abuse. It taught me to be a vigilant mother, but at the same time not to be scared of every adult that will interact with my child. The 5 steps were practical and will be easy to follow throughout my toddler’s life. I’m so grateful to all the survivors who shared their stories!” – local mother
“It was an eye-opening experience for my staff and allowed them the knowledge on how to work with clients that disclose sexual abuse to them. I would also say that it has given them the cues to help determine if abuse is going on without disclosure. It was well worth it.” – Chris A., Jewish Family & Community Services
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The CSAPC has a group of dedicated facilitators who can train your organization’s team of staff or volunteers. To schedule training, simply email [email protected] or call (904) 384-1361 ext. 4257. Or take the training online through First Coast YMCA. The fee is $10 per person for the workbook (purchased through Darkness to Light), though scholarships may be available for organizations to offset that fee.
For more information about the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Coalition, or to support our mission, visit our website, or contact the CSAPC Program Manager at [email protected] or (904) 384-1361 ext. 4257.
