Charleston, S.C. Region Becomes Nation's First to Reach 'Tipping Point' to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
September 19, 2010
Darkness to Light Program Surpasses 22,500 Participants; Public Involvement Changes Community Conscious
CHARLESTON, SC – September 15, 2010 – More adults in Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties in South Carolina have been trained to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to signs of child sexual abuse than anywhere else in America.
More than 22,500 adults in the region have participated in prevention workshops sponsored by Darkness to Light (D2L), a Charleston-based organization with national and international representatives. The trainings mark five-percent of the region’s adult population; a milestone that behavioral experts say is a tipping point for change in public sentiment and community action.
The benchmark was surpassed during this year’s Prevent-a-Thon series of free public trainings, supported by a massive media campaign to raise awareness during August.
This is such an important milestone because it represents a shift in our community conscious, said Anne Lee, D2L President and CEO. Child sexual abuse is pervasive in a society where it is repressed and not discussed. The trainings help educate adults and create a dialogue that spreads throughout the larger community.
On a statewide level, a D2L partnership with the South Carolina Department of Education has also achieved national honors. S.C. teachers and school staff now lead the nation in the number of participants to complete prevention training. By the end of 2010, more than 50-percent of the state’s teachers will complete trainings and SCDOE officials have pledged to achieve 100-percent participation.
National and global outreach is also underway through D2L representatives in 48 states and 10 foreign countries. Communities in Ohio, Georgia and the Cayman Islands are approaching tipping point marks as well.
About Darkness to Light and Child Sexual Abuse
D2L is a national non-profit, 501c3, and has created prevention education programs in 48 states and 10 foreign countries. D2L’s Stewards of Children training programs form a grass roots push at the community level to educate parents, youth service organizations, youth sports leagues and coaches, faith centers and teachers / school leaders. Online training is available and workshop schedules may be found at www.d2l.org.
In the U.S. alone, there are an estimated 40 million adult survivors of child sexual abuse. It is linked to a host of social issues including teen pregnancy, psychiatric disorders and substance abuse. Statistics show one in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused before age 18. Additionally, it ranks second to murder as the most expensive victim crime in the U.S., where costs exceed $35 billion annually.
