By Kate Nyquist, Education Services Manager, Center for Child Protection, Austin, TX “Could I please get a volunteer to stand up and tell us about your last sexual experience?” This is typically the way I grab the attention of those who aren’t yet willing to make eye contact with me during the difficult subject matter of child sexual …
By Erika Rowell, Program Support Manager, Darkness to Light As a new mother, I was tasked with the responsibility of choosing a childcare provider for my son. What a scary and overwhelming task this is for a parent! You’re choosing the people that will be spending 8 to 10 hours a day with your child. Going back …
By Laura Landgraf, Author, Activist, and Speaker Nothing compares with the moments my children were born. My son offered his opinion of the process instantly with an indignant wail. I laughed in delight. My daughter, after being placed on my tummy, quietly contemplated me with her great big eyes. I melted in that gaze. I …
Nothing feels more natural than to hug the ones we love. Especially children. And hugs are healthy physically and emotionally, for the giver and the receiver. Think of the many contexts in which we may hug someone: To greet close friends and family As a goodbye To console and comfort Congratulating a job well done …
enna Rose Simon had been drawing for years before one of her pieces went viral on social media. Ever since, she has been sharing her gift with the world via her online platforms. Her art, which began as a way to find her voice as a survivor of abuse, subsequently gave a voice to other …
The state of Delaware continues to be a leader in child sexual abuse prevention. The state has joined more than 25 states that require prevention and awareness training for school officials, teachers and parents. The legislation, which was signed on August 10th by Gov. Jack Markell, requires Delaware public schools to implement a curriculum to educate employees …
by Jill Tolles, Child Sexual Abuse Survivor and Speaker Talking about Child Sexual Abuse can feel scary and awkward, particularly for survivors. I know firsthand. In January of 2016, I broke my own silence in front of 1,400 people in my hometown at a TEDx Event arranged by my colleagues from the University where I …
The trafficking of children, also known as the commercial sexual exploitation of children, IS child sexual abuse. While not all children who are sexually abused go on to become commercially exploited, 70-90% of children who have been commercially exploited in some way have experienced non-commercial child sexual abuse. Knowing this, we can help to prevent …
As part of our Two Minutes for Prevention series, Stewards of Children® author Paula Sellars provides additional insights and experience about the topic covered in the video below. No matter what their age or how it comes up, talking with kids about sex and bodies feels like a risk. For most of us it just …
I have to admit, I’m not a helicopter mom. At least I don’t think I am. I remember one of the very first lessons I learned as a new mother. I read that if your kid trips and falls down, you’re not supposed to rush to their side with an overly excited, “Are you ok?” …
By Doug Galluccio, Detective for the City of Charleston Police Department As a detective who often sees the negative impacts of the internet on children, I feel that education is a major component with regards to internet safety. The internet provides an opportunity for children to learn, explore their world, and socialize with friends. By understanding …
The article below originally appeared on March 2, 2016 in the online version of the Lexington, NC Dispatch. The J. Smith Young YMCA and Tom A. Finch Community YMCA have joined together in an effort to train five percent of the Davidson County adult population in families, schools and youth serving organizations with Darkness to …
As part of our Two Minutes for Prevention series, Stewards of Children® author Paula Sellars provides additional insights and experience about the topic covered in the video below. When I was a child, my mom played a game with me that she called “Opposites.” This must have started when I was about three. Is that …
As part of our Two Minutes for Prevention series, Stewards of Children® author Paula Sellars provides additional insights and experience about the topic covered in the video below. One of the best things about children, especially the little ones, is their openness and receptivity. Simply by their nature, children call forth our affection. Being in …
Spring is here and April is just around the corner. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and Darkness to Light is working to encourage everyone to TALK about child sexual abuse. This TEDx Talk, by Jill Tolles, perfectly illustrates why TALKING ABOUT IT is something we ALL must do to protect children for sexual abuse. Watch …
This following is an excerpt from the new book “Undaunted: Breaking My Silence to Overcome the Trauma of Child Sexual Abuse” by Matt Sandusky. In the passage and accompanying video, Matt talks about the grooming process he experienced and how we can protect children from grooming behaviors. To purchase the book, visit www.amazon.com. Grooming reminds me …
This op-ed, authored by DeAnn Tilton and Utah House Representative Ken Ivory, originally appeared in The Salt Lake Tribune on March 7, 2016. For every legal action, lawmakers decide how long a victim has to take the offender to court. Historically, the state of Utah has given survivors of childhood sexual abuse just a few …
As part of our Two Minutes for Prevention series, Stewards of Children® author Paula Sellars provides additional insights and experience about the topic covered in the video below. This Two Minutes for Prevention video could be pretty discouraging. The news of it may even make you mad. ‘Make you want to blame the messenger. But the …
Dave Moody is one of the survivors featured in Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children® child sexual abuse prevention training. In the video below and the blog post that follows, Dave shares in his own words his survivor story and his journey to healing. My story is one that you might have heard before. Born and …
Several of Darkness to Light’s staff members went to see the movie Spotlight on opening night in Charleston. The film covers the investigative reporting of the Boston Globe’s Spotlight team in exposing the cover-up of sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church. We work at an organization committed to empowering adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse, and are immersed …