×

7,000 adults trained to help prevent child sexual abuse

BELLEFONTE – Centre County has reached a new milestone in child protection.

Statistics for child sexual abuse are startling. In the United States alone, one in 10 children will be sexually abused before the age of 18, making this one of the most prevalent health problems children face. Children affected not only suffer serious short term consequences from their abuse, and long term effects are often devastating for their family, relationships, and communities.

In over 90% of incidents, children are abused by someone they and their caregivers know and trust.

However, in Centre County, 7,000 adults are now trained to create environments that reduce the risk for abuse and allow children to learn, play, and worship in safety.

“Our community has a very unique collaboration that is dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse and it’s long lasting consequences.” said YMCA of Centre County’s Director of Community Outreach Jamie SanFilippo. “Our mission is to keep every family and child happy, healthy, and whole.”

The YMCA of Centre County, Centre County United Way, Centre County Women’s Resource Center, and the Centre County Youth Service Bureau are a coalition with a proven and continued commitment to preventing child sexual abuse in Centre County.

Register for a free Stewards of Children® training program, schedule a free training for your organization, or learn how to become an authorized facilitator today: you could be the 7,001 person in our community trained to prevent child sexual abuse. Make a commitment today to protect the children in your life. Contact Jamie SanFilippo at JSanFilippo@ymcaocc.org for education, training, and volunteer opportunities and visit ymcaocc.org for more information and upcoming trainings in your area.

Jamie is a Darkness to Light affiliate, authorized to facilitate Stewards of Children trainings within the Centre County community, as well as certify new facilitators. She is the lead trainer and coordinator for all Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children® trainings in Centre County. Jamie is a Penn State graduate and has been with the YMCA of Centre County for almost 10 years.

Darkness to Light (D2L) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2000 with the mission to empower adults to prevent child sexual abuse. Through education and awareness, the organization seeks to create a safer world for children to grow and thrive. Darkness to Light’s flagship program, “Stewards of Children®,” is an award-winning training that teaches adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. To date, over one million educators, youth serving professionals, organization volunteers, and community members have been trained. “Stewards of Children” is the largest training program of its kind, with the largest network of child protection advocates in the world. For more information visit D2L.org/Stewards.

For further information, please contact Darkness to Light Authorized Facilitator Jamie SanFilippo at 814-237-7717 or JSanFilippo@ymcaocc.org.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $3.69/week.

Subscribe Today