The statistics are startling. 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Children are victims in nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults. In more than 90% of these cases, the abuser is someone the child knows and trusts.
But there’s good news too. The Chapel Hill – Carrboro YMCA has partnered with Darkness to Light, a nationally acclaimed non-profit, to bring its award-winning prevention program, Stewards of Children, to Orange and Chatham Counties. Stewards of Children is a three-hour training designed to educate adults on how to recognize, prevent, and react responsibly to the reality of child sexual abuse, emphasizing child safety as every adult’s responsibility. Our goal is simple: to educate and prepare our community to deal with and prevent child sexual abuse.
The YMCA is able to provide Stewards of Children trainings free of charge thanks to grants awarded from the Oak Foundation and the Redwoods Foundation. Trainings are open to the public and may be of specific interest to youth sports organizations, coaches, camp counselors, teachers, schools, faith centers and other service organizations. Trainings facilitate discussion about the incidence and consequence of abuse and present information about child protection policies and mandates and prevention techniques. Stewards of Children workshops can be requested by any local group and the YMCA will host open community trainings on a monthly basis. Continuing education credits for professionals in various fields can be obtained through this training. Stewards of Children trainings take place at the Children’s Center at Carol Woods.
Upcoming Stewards of Children Trainings in Chapel Hill:
Tuesday 1/10, 9AM-12 PM. Click here to register
Wednesday 1/18, 5:45-8:45 PM. Click here to register
Wednesday 2/15, 2-5 PM . Click here to register
Tuesday 2/21, 5:45-8:45 PM. Click here to register
Wednesday 3/14, 9 AM-12 PM. Email tsmar@chcymca.org to register
Thursday 3/22, 5:45-8:45 PM. Email tsmar@chcymca.org to register
Upcoming Stewards of Children Trainings in Pittsboro:
Wednesday 1/25, 9AM-12PM. Email yafterschool@chcymca.org to register
Tuesday 2/28, 5:45-8:45 PM. Email yafterschool@chcymca.org to register
Saturday 3/24, 9 AM-12 PM. Email yafterschool@chcymca.org to register
We are also happy to set up private trainings for your organizations or businesses. To schedule a private training or for questions relating to the YMCA’s Darkness to Light initiative, email Tricia Smar at tsmar@chcymca.org
Prevent Now!
Prevent Now meetings are community meetings, meant to raise awareness and knowledge around the subject of child sexual abuse. All meetings are held at the YMCA’s Children’s Center at Carol Woods.
Upcoming Prevent Now meetings in Chapel Hill:
Wednesday 1/11, 12-1:30 PM. Click here to register
Wednesday 2/8, 5:30-7 PM. Email tsmar@chcymca.org to register
Monday 3/5, 12-1:30 PM. Email tsmar@chcymca.org to register
Upcoming Prevent Now meetings in Pittsboro:
Friday 1/13, 12-1:30 PM. Email yafterschool@chcymca.org to register
Tuesday 2/7, 12-1:30 PM. Email yafterschool@chcymca.org to register
Monday 3/12, 6-7:30 PM. Email yafterschool@chcymca.org to register
To learn more about the Darkness to Light organization, CLICK HERE.