For its commitment to safeguarding children, YMCA of Centre County has achieved Partner in Prevention status by the globally-recognized non-profit Darkness to Light.
The recognition is awarded to organizations that take extra steps to protect children by training staff to understand the issue of child sexual abuse, identify unsafe situations and practices, and react responsibly in the best interest of the children they serve.
With one in 10 children facing sexual abuse before the age of 18, and an estimated 42 million adult survivors currently living in the United States, Darkness to Light works to empower adults and organizations like YMCA of Centre County to act through awareness, education and stigma reduction.
YMCA of Centre County earned the Partner in Prevention designation by providing Darkness to Light’s award-winning training, Stewards of Children, to over 90% of its management, staff and volunteers. Stewards of Children is one of the only evidence-informed, adult-focused child sexual abuse prevention trainings in the United States proven to increase knowledge and change behavior, according to a press release
“For more than 10 years, we’ve made child sexual abuse prevention a priority. In doing so, we are helping reduce the long-lasting consequences of abuse, such as trauma, substance abuse, suicide, homelessness, and other serious health issues,” Jamie SanFilippo, YMCA of Centre County Director of Community Outreach, said in a statement.
The Partner in Prevention designation was created by Darkness to Light as a national standard to help parents and caregivers recognize organizations that prioritize child protection by implementing robust policies and trainings to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. Darkness to Light has successfully trained over 2.2 million adults, with affiliates in all 50 states and 115 international locations.
To learn more about child sexual abuse prevention training and the Darkness to Light’s “Partner in Prevention” program, visit D2L.org/education/partner-in-prevention.
