Program empowers adults to protect children

A child’s safety is an adult’s job.

That’s the premise behind Darkness to Light, a child sexual abuse prevention program now available through the Children’s Advocacy Center, which serves St. Tammany, Washington and Tangipahoa parishes.

“Typical prevention programs tell children how to protect themselves,” said Bethany Case, CAC trained facilitator. “Darkness to Light is different. It focuses on empowering adults to protect children from abuse.”

It’s a sad fact that the program is needed, she said.

The statistics are staggering. Nationally, one in every four girls and one in every six boys are sexually abused before they are 18, said Case. The Darkness to Light Web site reports that one in five children are solicited sexually while using the Internet, nearly 70 percent of all reported sexual assaults occur to children 17 and under, and an estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse live in the United States today.

No community is immune, said Case.

“We want to believe we live in a wonderful, innocent, healthy community, but this is a problem that exists everywhere,” she said.

The CAC’s Hope House, a Covington facility that serves young victims of abuse, sees about 300 children aged 3 to 16, a year. And those are just some of the ones whose abuse has been reported.

Executive Director Dorothy Garcia recently said experts estimate the actual number of incidents of abuse and neglect could be nine times greater than reported, because victims are often too intimidated to speak up.

It’s a complex issue made even more so by the fact that much of the abuse is perpetrated by someone known to the victim. Reportedly, only 10 percent of the sexual abusers of children are strangers to their victims.

Adults need to take action to protect the children, said Case.

“The sexual abuse of children is a social problem that no one wants to think about because it’s so horrible,” she said. “We don’t want to think people are actually sexually abusing children. So first, I think people need to educate themselves on what childhood sexual abuse is and what they can do about it as adults.”

Darkness to Light was created to help. It recommends a seven-step approach. Adults are advised to: Learn the facts and understand the risks; Minimize opportunity; Talk about it; Stay alert; Make a plan; Act on suspicions and Get involved.

Case said all adults could benefit from the training.

“They can be parents, family members, professionals, church members, neighbors or community members,” she said. “They can play all kinds of roles in protecting children. And for organizations that serve children, this is an awesome opportunity to provide training for employees.

“This training is for everyone, and I think everybody in the community can benefit. Each person can determine what they would like to do, and the whole community benefits because it has educated, proactive members who are involved in protecting children.”

Darkness to Light is offered for $15, the cost of materials. It is a three-hour course, and Case is available to “go on location” to conduct group training.

To schedule training or for additional information, contact her at 892-3885 or online at bethany@sttammanycac.com

For additional information on Darkness to Light, visit www.darkness2light.org.