Child Advocacy Center has trained 5% county adults to protect children sexual abuse

Apr 23, 2020 at 01:00 pm by Child Advocacy Center

Image of a trainee completing the Darkness to Light training online

"The Child Advocacy Center is excited to announce that we have trained over 5% of the adult population of Rutherford and Cannon Counties how to protect children from child sexual abuse," announced Child Advocacy Center director Sharon De Boer. 

The Child Advocacy Center is a non-profit agency that works as a team with the Department of Children's Services, law enforcement, and the District Attorney's Office to respond to child abuse cases, investigate the crime, aggressively prosecute offenders, and help children and families heal from the trauma. 

"The Darkness to Light Child Sexual Abuse Training represents hope to us," continued De Boer. "Every day, the Child Advocacy Center and the partner agencies work together to assist children and families whose lives have been devastated by child sexual abuse. This training represents our hope that we can reduce the number of child sexual abuse victims in our community by teaching their parents and grandparents how to protect them from predators."

In 2012, the Child Advocacy Center set a goal to train 5% of the adult population of Rutherford and Cannon Counties. To date, the Center has exceeded that goal by training 11,952 parents, grandparents, and professionals utilizing the Darkness to Light training curriculum.

Darkness to Light is a nationwide initiative designed to teach adults how to protect children by teaching them the 5 Steps to Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse. It is the leading child sexual abuse prevention program in the nation. The Child Advocacy Center is proud to offer this training in Rutherford and Cannon Counties.

Many local organizations have participated in the Darkness to Light training and made it possible for the Child Advocacy Center to reach its goal including: Murfreesboro City Schools, Rutherford County Schools, Cannon County Schools, Department of Children's Services, Murfreesboro Police Department, Woodbury Police Department, Cannon County Sheriff's Department, Middle Tennessee State University, Motlow State Community College, Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation, Patterson Park Community Center, Boys and Girls Club, Domestic Violence Program, and many other non-profit agencies, law enforcement agencies, daycares, churches, businesses, and civic groups.

"We believe that it is the adult's responsibility to protect children," stated Child Advocacy Center Community Education Coordinator Brittnie Noble. "Darkness to Light empowers adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse through education and awareness. Together we can make a difference in the lives of Rutherford and Cannon County children."

You can bring this free training to your organization. Currently, the Child Advocacy Center is scheduling trainings in July, August, and September 2020. During the COVID 19 pandemic, the Child Advocacy Center is partnering with the Darkness to Light online training program to provide the training to Rutherford and Cannon County parents, grandparents and professionals in their homes.

To learn more about these training opportunities, contact Brittnie Noble at 615-867-9000 or bnoble@cacrutherford.org.

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