In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, the Cumberland Cape Atlantic YMCA is sharing important information about how to keep children safe. This is especially important due to the current closure of schools and child care centers/services. The resources below are through Darkness to Light, a national not-for-profit organization whose aim is to eliminate any type of child abuse. Access to this online training is free with the code FLIPTHESWITCH.
“One in 10 children will be abused before their 18th birthday,” observed Theresa Booth, senior director of Child Development at the YMCA and a Certified Praesidium guardian and a Darkness to Light facilitator. “With children at home now, I wanted to reach out to provide the public with information that can create awareness of child abuse and how to deal with it. This is an issue that we need to stop from being ignored, as if it doesn’t exist if we don’t talk about it.”
The website d2l.org/the-issue/statistics/ provides additional statistics and other facts. Below are more free resources:
• Stewards of Children training is available at no cost through Darkness to Light’s partnership with Aly Raisman. Any adult can complete the Stewards of Children® training online. This teaches adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. Go to fliptheswitchcampaign.org.
• How to protect your child during a crisis: This 30-minute training provides videos, short readings, and resources such as templates to create your own Family Code of Conduct. d2l.org/education/additional-training/protecting-children-during-crisis/
• How to keep your children safe on the internet: This is useful especially now that kids are spending more time online for virtual learning. d2l.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/One-Sheet_Technology-Guide_JTM.pdf
Booth said, “For additional information during April or into the future, please reach out to me at childcare@ccaymca.org.”
