Center for Child Protection has achieved “Partner in Prevention,” a nationally-recognized public standard to end the cycle of child sexual abuse.
The designation was awarded for the Center’s commitment to protecting children by training staff and volunteers on how to prevent, recognize the signs and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. To qualify, organizations must train at least 90 percent of its staff.
“Partner in Prevention” was created as a national standard to help parents and caregivers recognize organizations who take child sexual abuse prevention seriously by implementing policy and training staff. The training and designation award is provided by Charleston, SC-based Darkness to Light (D2L). D2L has championed the movement to end child sexual abuse since its founding in 2000 and now has education programs in 49 states and 15 foreign countries.
“Darkness to Light programs take our education services to the next level,” said Michael Torres, Center for Child Protection Executive Director. “The trainings we provide our community through D2L are informative and profound, leaving participants empowered to help and invested in learning more.”
D2L’s training curriculum points out that child sexual abuse is pervasive in a society where it is repressed and not discussed. Thousands of organizations across the U.S. and Canada are now seeking out a dialogue for prevention and they are sending parents and the community a message with the Partner in Prevention distinction.
“Last year alone, the Center’s education services reached over 3,000 Austin community members, and these services continue to grow,” Torres said. “Through D2L initiatives and our own Spot It. Stop It. educational campaign, our goal is to reach all adults who are willing to learn and help spread the message.”
To learn more about child sexual abuse prevention training or to enroll your organization in D2L’s “Partner in Prevention” program, please visit www.d2l.org. To schedule a training with the Center for Child Protection, please visit www.SpotItStopIt.org.
About Child Sexual Abuse
Crime and behavioral studies have long cited child sexual abuse for its devastating impact on society. Statistics are startling, according to the Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse & Neglect:
- 95% of abuse is by someone the child knows and trusts.
- 73% of children don’t tell anyone until well after the abuse has occurred, if they tell at all.
- Statistically, approximately 500,000 babies born in the U.S. each year will be sexually abused before they reach age 18.
- In the U.S. alone, there are an estimated 42 million adult survivors of child sexual abuse.
- Child sexual abuse is linked to a host of social issues including teen pregnancy, psychiatric disorders and substance abuse.
- Child sexual abuse ranks second to murder as the most expensive victim crime in the U.S., where costs exceed $35 billion annually.
Contact Info
Center for Child Protection
8509 FM 969, Building 2
Austin, Texas 78724
Phone: 512-472-1164
Fax: 512-472-1167
Web: centerforchildprotection.org
