Ys across the country are partnering with key community leaders to take the fight against child sexual abuse to the next level. In collaboration with Darkness to Light and The Redwoods Group Foundation, Ys are harnessing their power to convene and making sexual abuse prevention a community priority. The cross-section of social and civic leaders,...
Abuse Prevention
Recorded Webinar: Abuse-Proof Your Camp
It is everyone’s responsibility to prevent child sexual abuse. In this webinar, learn the scope of the problem, how to train your staff to stop abuse and what procedures to implement for preventing abuse. Panelists: Cindy McElhinney, National Program Director, Darkness to Light Joel Haber, Bullying Prevention Author & Speaker, RespectU.com Gareth Hedges, Associate General...
Abuse-Proof Your Camp: Upcoming Webinar
It is everyone’s responsibility to prevent child sexual abuse. On Wednesday, we are hosting a webinar with the American Camp Association on child sexual abuse prevention. And it’s not too late to register. In this webinar, learn the scope of the problem, how to train your staff to stop abuse and what procedures to implement for...
Protecting Campers from Sexual Abuse
Last week Howard Longino, Camp Safety Director at Redwoods, presented to a packed room of camp professionals on “Bullying and Sexual Abuse Prevention” at the ACA National conference. People literally sat on the floor, eager to hear practical and sustainable practices that can prevent a child from being abused at camp. Many didn’t realize...
See you at ACA National!
Next week, a team from Redwoods will join nearly 2,000 youth development professionals at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta for the American Camp Associations (ACA) national conference. Attendees will be immersed in three days of lectures and discussions with industry professionals on topics ranging from social responsibility to abuse prevention. I’m excited about attending ACA...
Sexual Abuse Awareness Videos
The videos below are a bit jarring and inspire great awareness of child sexual abuse. Darkness to Light created these videos in 2008 to put a face to child sexual abuse. The videos quickly gained popularity, even appearing on E’s The Soup. Please watch and share these powerful videos with your family, friends and coworkers...
The Importance of Intervening at the First Signs of Bullying
Bullying can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. It can take the form of physical, social, verbal or cyber. It can be hard to identify or to know when to intervene. What distinguishes bullying from common teasing is the deliberate, repeated action from someone who has power over another person. My son David was in 5th...
Partners in Prevention: Y CEOs and D2L Join to Protect Children
In the midst of the challenges society faces in protecting our children, it is important that we salute the diligent efforts of the Y and Darkness to Light. Following a severe case of abuse in Massachusetts, Y leaders committed themselves to end child sexual abuse in America. This was the start of their initiative,...
The Issue Of Child Sexual Abuse Does Not Belong To History
On December 9th, the NY Times published an article by Ginia Bellafonte titled, “At Elite Prep School, Abuse Case Won’t Go Away”. Bellafonte completely understands the issues surrounding abuse in institutions. The article is a great read, but this quote stood out, “In truth, all children are vulnerable in institutions that prize status and reputation above...
Prevention Is the Answer to End Child Sexual Abuse
For Kim Grooms, the Executive Branch Director of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA, prevention is the answer to ending child sexual abuse. The Y adopted a training model created by Darkness to Light (D2L) and a goal to train 5% of the Chapel Hill/Carrboro community in sexual abuse prevention. This is a large undertaking and...