Stewards of children

Darkness to Light is a non-profit organization whose mission is to reduce the incidence of child sexual abuse by shifting the responsibility from children to adults. This is accomplished through an award-winning media campaign that raises public awareness and directs adults to educational tools, which will teach them to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.

View how to coordinate a Stewards of Children [PDF] for your group or organization. For more information please contact us at cttp@advocatehealth.com.

What is Stewards of Children?

Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children is a revolutionary sexual abuse prevention training program that educates adults to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse, and motivates them to courageous action. The Stewards of Children program is designed for organizations that serve children and youth, and any/all adults interested in protecting children. This program recognizes that adults are responsible for the safety of children.

Why do we need Stewards of Children?

• 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before age 18.
• 39 million survivors of child sexual abuse in America today.
• 90% are abused by someone they know.
• Sexual misconduct is the No. 1 reason for coach firings (1 in every 5).
• Organizations have paid out millions to victims and families because of coach sexual misconduct. In a 1990 case in Lake Washington, WA, the settlement was $2.3 million.

How should you respond to the risks?

• Understand the impact.
• Screen employees and volunteers.
• Create policies eliminating/minimizing one adult/one child situations.
• Develop clear-cut child sexual abuse reporting procedures.
• Train employees and volunteers to protect children from sexual abuse.

How does Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children address these needs?

• Offers a sexual abuse prevention training program that educates staff/volunteers to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse
• Provides the training necessary for an effective risk management approach
• Provides resources to create child protection policies and procedures
• Ideal for response to insurance requirements regarding risk management

What does the training include?

• The training is led by a Darkness to Light authorized facilitator enabling interaction, insight and compassion.
• An interactive workbook and accompanying VHS/DVD integrating segments of sexual abuse survivors relating their stories of violation and healing, with segments from the author of the curriculum and from professionals who interface daily with the problem of sexual abuse.
• Darkness to Light's® 5 Steps to Protecting Our Children: A guide for adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.
  Opportunity for discussion about important issues in sexual abuse prevention and the relevance of these issues within organizations that serve children and adolescents.
• The simple principles of choice, consciousness, personal power, and relentless compassion to motivate individuals to action.
• A curriculum that is direct about holding each adult accountable and the support necessary for personal change, taking into consideration any fears or concerns.

After training participants will:

• Understand the facts of child sexual abuse - incidence rates and effects on individuals and society
• Understand how child sexual abuse happens
• Understand that adults are responsible for the protection of children
• Understand the importance of screening staff/volunteers who work with children and adolescents
• Understand the importance of a well-conceived one-adult/one-child policy
• Have resources to react responsibly to incidents of child sexual abuse
• Understand the proactive role adults need to take to protect children and educate their communities about child sexual abuse

Stewards of Children^TM works!

• In pre-post evaluations of Stewards of Children^TM conducted in 9 different organizations that included faith centers, schools, community-based youth programs and sports/recreational programs, participants demonstrated 38% improvement in knowledge about sexual abuse and in attitudes about adult responsibility in the resolution of child sexual abuse after exposure to the program.
• After two months, a 29% increase in behaviors focused on the protection of children from sexual abuse (e.g., they directed more questions about child protection policy to staff of youth-serving organizations; they talked more with children about healthy sexuality and protection from sexual abuse)
• On a scale of 1 to 5 participant ratings on the quality and effectiveness of the program was higher than 4 on all questions, indicating that participants find the curriculum compelling.

Some of Darkness to Light's partners and collaborators:

• National Children's Alliance
• Alliance of Information and Referral Systems
• Justice For Children
• The National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center
• National Call to Action
• Protect, Inc.
• Young & Rubicam, Inc.
• Landor Associates
• CNN Network
• Lifetime Network
• Time, Inc.
• USA Network
• Cox Broadcasting

Stewards of Children testimonials

What people have said about Stewards of Children:

Director of Educational Ministries, Presbyterian Church
"More and more I am convicted that it is our RESPONSE-ABILITY to protect our children! This training not only makes that clear, but is hopeful and motivating!"

Director of Prevention, Children's Advocacy Center
"The Stewards of Children video and workbook is not only a curriculum of well-researched child sexual abuse facts and information, but a process of consciousness raising. This program will bring about powerful child sexual abuse prevention efforts!"

Elementary School Teacher
"This was a well-done presentation that brought statistics and ideas to light that covered basic information about what constitutes sexual abuse and steps we may be able to take to recognize or prevent it."

Parent
"I found it informative and enlightening. I especially like the move toward making parents more accountable in seeking information or evidence of abuse."

Attorney
"I feel a sense of urgency with regard to the need for more awareness about CSA. Just when I think that I live in a society that is sophisticated and enlightened, an issue like this comes along. I am surprised at the slow reaction of businesses, insurance companies, and non-profits. This training is revolutionary! Everyone needs access to it!"

Community Volunteer
"It was an eye-opening experience into an area that as a community, we would like to believe doesn't happen. Knowing that the chances are great that we deal with people everyday who have been or are being abused and to know that if I can help only one person then the course is well worth any time spent doing it."

Learn more about Darkness to Light and the Stewards of Children Workshops