Donna Dye, Marianna Gill, Angie Lopez (Preschool Director), Rev. James Petty, Julie Thomas, and Ann Wolfe received training at the Stewards of Children Workshop held August 4 at Hazelwood. Facilitator Annie Cunningham used a two-part video and discussion points to emphasize five steps to protect children from sexual abuse (from “Darkness to Light”, www.D2L.org).
- Learn the facts: 1 in 10 children are sexually abused. Over 90% of them know their abuser.
- Minimize opportunity: Eliminate or reduce isolated, one-on-one situations to decrease risk for abuse.
- Talk about it: Have open conversations with children about our bodies, sex, and boundaries.
- Recognize the signs: Know the signs of abuse to protect children from further harm.
- React responsibly: Understand how to respond to risky behaviors and suspicions or reports of sexual abuse.
Hazelwood Christian Church and our preschool already have certain protocols in place, and this workshop helped to identify areas in which we can improve. Special thanks to Ann Wolfe for arranging this informative workshop for us!
