Northeast Opportunities for Wellness, Inc. (NOW) is offering free training to area youth-serving partner organizations in the Darkness to Light Stewards of Children® program over several training sessions in 2018. The Stewards of Children® program is designed for organizations that serve youth and will help you prevent, recognize and react to CSA by offering simple, evidence based practices that everyone can use. The training is 2 hours and led by NOW’s own Darkness to Light Authorized Facilitator, Joseph Couture.  NOW will provide light refreshments and participants will receive a certificate of attendance upon completion of the training.

Training sessions are currently scheduled for the following dates:

Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. – United Services, Inc. in Dayville 
Monday, April 9, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. – TEEG in Thompson 
Saturday, June 2, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. – Plainfield Recreation Center in Plainfield

Windham County has the highest rate of child sexual abuse (CSA) per capita in the state of Connecticut. The Northeast area of this county has staggering rates of reported CSA.

• About one in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday

• About one in seven girls and one in 25 boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18

• About 90{935c65a732af2bdfdcd0903b52ce42ca7e95cf00c7f9fc1a7b4e2b425875eda7} of children who are victims of sexual abuse know their abuser.

• About 60{935c65a732af2bdfdcd0903b52ce42ca7e95cf00c7f9fc1a7b4e2b425875eda7} of children who are sexually abused are abused by people the family trusts

Long-term, the goal for the program is for NOW and other partner organizations to become “Partners in Prevention” with 90{935c65a732af2bdfdcd0903b52ce42ca7e95cf00c7f9fc1a7b4e2b425875eda7} or more of employees and volunteers who interact with youth receiving the training.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED                                                                                                                                                                                                   Pre-registration & Walk-In Registration Available 

To register, or for more information, contact:                                                                                                                                                                 Day Kimball Healthcare Director of Child Advocacy Programs, Christine Collins                                              ccollins@daykimball.org or 860-963-6599 (press 1 then 7113)