Blog

Cheer and dance stunts are activities that require incredible skill and dedication. Athletes perform intense, backbreaking routines that the average person could never accomplish. From extensions to liberty to air tosses, the result can be breathtaking. Just like a flyer relies on the support of their bases’ hands as they prepare to lift, personal boundaries …

Read More

As a coach, you are a big part of your athlete’s lives. Competitive sports are demanding but rewarding, and you see your athletes through a lot. Kids need to know that they are valued and believed in, so your role as a coach is crucial. Because one in 10 children will be sexually abused before …

Read More

It’s the moment many parents dread: your teenager has been asked out on their first date. You may feel like they’re too young (let’s be honest, you think anything younger than 30 years old is too young) but they are over the moon to be going out with their crush. This is uncharted territory for …

Read More

The idea of Darkness to Light was born and carefully cultivated long before its registration as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Over 25 years ago, a child sexual abuse crisis came to light and stirred up Charleston, SC. A small but passionate group of citizens came together and wondered why services were only available after a child …

Read More

The winter holidays are some of the most anticipated days of the year for kids and adults alike. There can be a certain kind of magic about this time of year… and chaos, too. Visitors abound, schedules are hectic, parents might be overwhelmed, and in the wrong situation, abusers take advantage. In fact, rates of …

Read More

Child sexual abuse is a complex issue. You’ve probably heard a lot of headlines in the news recently about child sexual abuse even though it may be referred to as ‘molestation,’ ‘assault,’ or ‘rape.’ For a topic that is beginning to be talked about more openly, you may not know what words and language to …

Read More

As an educator or staff member, you know how vital school experiences are for kids and how it leads to many positive growth opportunities. The student’s safety is your number one priority – so how can you make sure they are safe within the school’s walls and also convey that message to the children in …

Read More

Darkness to Light announces more than 1.8 million adults trained to prevent child sexual abuse. In February of 2019 we reached an amazing milestone: we trained 1.7 million adults to prevent child sexual abuse! We were thrilled. However, this wasn’t enough for our Authorized Facilitators and Instructors. Through their dedication and partnership, 100,000 more adults …

Read More

As we approach the end of the year, our team has been reflecting on the amazing things we’ve achieved in collaboration with our partners – from surpassing 1.8 million adults trained to launching our new prevention paradigm. We continue to push forward to help better protect children and as we look forward to 2020, we …

Read More

Aly Raisman joined Darkness to Light’s third annual IGNITE Conference as a keynote speaker. BOSTON – October 28, 2019 – Aly Raisman, abuse prevention advocate and Darkness to Light Ambassador, appeared as a keynote speaker at IGNITE 2019 on October 8th and 9th, 2019 at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center in Massachusetts. IGNITE …

Read More

Halloween safety can be tricky (see what we did there?). You have to hold allowing children to build independence and resilience in tension with maintaining a protective environment for your child. Kids need to learn to be savvy and street smart, but parents must also recognize that it’s their responsibility to keep their child safe. …

Read More

Darkness to Light presented our national awards at our National Prevention Conference, IGNITE 2019. During IGNITE 2019, Darkness to Light recognized individuals who have gone above and beyond to further the mission of ending child sexual abuse. Awards presented included Instructor of the Year, Facilitator of the Year, and the Partner in Prevention Leadership Award. …

Read More

A “bystander” is a person who witnesses a boundary violation or sees a situation in which a child is vulnerable. Active bystanding is key for preventing child sexual abuse. Intervening or taking preventative measures as a bystander can mean the difference between a child being sexually abused or being protected from abuse. We can be active, …

Read More

Darkness to Light partners with Monique Burr Foundation for Children to launch Prevent 360°, a comprehensive approach to prevent child abuse. Two of the nation’s leading advocates for the prevention of child abuse and bullying announced a partnership today called Prevent 360°. Protecting children from sexual abuse and other types of victimization requires a 360° …

Read More

In the 1980s, the American Medical Association distributed a widely viewed public safety announcement encouraging parents to teach their children about “Stranger Danger.” In the 30-second clip, a man drives up to a young girl on her way to school. He begins a conversation with her and she responds, because her parents have “taught [their] …

Read More

It’s that time of year again – back to school! Back to a daily routine, including morning carpool and extracurricular afterschool activities.

Sometimes, it happens. You need someone to watch your kids but none of your regular babysitters are available. You’re desperate—you must hire a sitter you’ve never met. What do you do when you don’t know the person watching your kids? Of course, best practice suggests that you prescreen your childcare providers, check references, and hold …

Read More

As our fiscal year comes to an end, we want to take a moment to look back on what YOU have helped Darkness to Light accomplish – primarily, that more children than ever are safe because of your support. In partnership with thousands of volunteers worldwide, more than 1.7 million adults have been trained to prevent, recognize, …

Read More

Darkness to Light announces third annual child abuse prevention conference. Darkness to Light announces its third annual national child sexual abuse prevention conference, Ignite 2019, October 8-9 in Boston, MA.  The conference brings together sexual abuse prevention leaders from across the country around the common goal of making communities safer for children. Marci Hamilton, the Founder, CEO, and …

Read More

In many places school is out and kids’ summer activities are getting started – riding bikes all day, pool parties, sleepovers, and summer camps. You make sure your kids are prepared with helmets and swim lessons, but have you thought about how to prepare them to be away safely overnight and have safer sleepovers? Sleepovers …

Read More