Texarkana Children's Advocacy Center brings Stewards of Children to DeKalb
By Kenny Mitchell
The Texarkana Children’s Advocacy Center, in partnership with DeKalb ISD, facilitated a community child abuse prevention training called Stewards of Children® from the program Darkness to Light. Stewards of Children® teaches adults practical actions they can take to reduce instances of child sexual abuse in their organizations, families, and communities. Stewards of Children® is an evidence-informed, adult-focused child sexual abuse prevention training in the United States that increases knowledge and changes behavior.
The Texarkana Children’s Advocacy Center (TCAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers free services such as forensic interviews, family advocacy, therapy, medical exams, case coordination, prevention education, and more to children who have experienced abuse and their families. Their mission is to unite multidisciplinary team members and community partners to ensure hope, healing, and justice for child abuse victims and their families.
Trinity Gardner, Director of Education and Prevention at TCAC, says, “We are grateful for partnerships with local school districts such as DeKalb ISD that believe in creating a culture of child abuse prevention within their district as well as in the community.”
This training was open not only to employees of the district but also to community members. Child sexual abuse is preventable, but it takes everyone being aware, educated, and empowered to act.
Hanna Mullins, Education Outreach Specialist at TCAC and an alumna of DeKalb ISD, says, “I am so grateful for the district that shaped me into who I am today and for allowing TCAC to share this important information with my hometown.”
When school districts, churches, and other youth-serving organizations commit to equipping their staff, volunteers, and community members with the knowledge and skills to prevent child abuse—and to respond confidently and appropriately to the discovery, disclosure, or suspicion of abuse—they create safer environments where children are better protected. Our children can’t learn or be the best versions of themselves if they are not safe.
TCAC offers many free trainings for adults and children in the community. If your organization would like to schedule a free training, please email Trinity Gardner at tgardner@casacac.org.
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