Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children, Connections Matter, Mandated Reporter Training, and Safe Sanctuaries

Georgia's Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Initiative starts with the premise that adults are responsible for the safety of children. However, many adults feel unable to protect children from sexual abuse because they do not know enough about the problem or the steps they can take to reduce the risk. 

Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children

We educate all adults who have responsibility for children, using Darkness to Light (D2L)'s Stewards of Children child sexual abuse prevention training program. Since 2006, over 153,000 Georgia adults have participated in the Stewards of Children training.

The Stewards of Children training curriculum is the only adult-focused, evidence-informed curriculum proven to increase knowledge and attitudes about child sexual abuse and to change behaviors promoting protective factors. The one-time 2 ½ hour Stewards of Children program is available through a group session led by one of our authorized facilitators.

The training is appropriate for parents as well as professionals and volunteers in youth-serving organizations such as schools, faith centers, camps, daycares, sports leagues, and clubs.

Connections Matter Georgia

We also offer Connections Matter, an in-person and virtual training designed to engage community members in building care connections to improve resiliency, prevent childhood trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) using Georgia data, and understand how our interactions with others can support those who have experienced trauma. Healthy minds enable individuals to reach their full potential. Businesses, child and family-serving professionals, faith communities, and individuals can promote trauma-informed environments that help everyone manage stress and build stronger connections within the community. The Connections Matter training lasts 4 hours and can be done in one session or split into two sessions.

Mandated Reporter Training

Mandated reporting is the early recognition of child maltreatment with the goal of preventing further abuse from occurring. Many mandated reporters have professional relationships with children that make it possible for children to disclose abuse or for the mandated reporter to identify maltreatment.

Child serving professionals and volunteers may suspect child abuse or have a child disclose abuse to them on site. Oftentimes, barriers like fear of reporting, the inability to recognize all forms of child maltreatment, and vague organizational policies may prevent professionals from making a report of child maltreatment.

Mandated Reporters are child-serving professionals, including volunteers at child-serving organizations, and are all required by Georgia law to report suspected child abuse. The majority of child abuse reports in the state tend to be made by mandated reporters, making them the first line of defense.

Taking an in-depth facilitator-led Mandated Reporting training by Prevent Child Abuse (PCA) Georgia gives participants the ability to recognize, react, and report child maltreatment, along with a scenario practice. Our authorized facilitators provide an engaging and educational alternative to an online course, and the training takes 1 ½ hours.

Safe Sanctuaries

This training is for local churches working with children, youth, and vulnerable adults. It covers the basics of Safe Sanctuaries and why it’s important for your local church to implement it. In your local setting, you will find it is easier to follow directives and put boundaries in place if you understand why it is necessary. To increase accountability and safety within your church this training is highly recommended! The training takes 2 hours. More information can be found at https://www.sgaumc.org/safesanctuaries.