Delaware News

Biden, Community Leaders Launch Collaboration to Protect Children from Abuse

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Wednesday, September 7, 2011



Biden, Community Leaders Launch Collaboration to Protect Children from Abuse
Stewards of Children program aims to train 35,000 Delawareans

Wilmington – Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, child advocates and community leaders today
announced a coordinated initiative to educate tens of thousands of Delaware adults about recognizing
the signs of child sexual abuse and reporting suspected crimes. The partnership, which includes
Prevent Child Abuse Delaware, the YMCA of Delaware and the Attorney General’s Office, aims to
train 35,000 Delawareans, or about 5% of the state’s population, in the Stewards of Children sexual
abuse prevention curriculum.

“It is not a child’s job to protect him or herself from abuse, it’s our job. This program gives
adults the tools and the information we need to protect kids,” said Attorney General Biden. “Everyone
in Delaware is a mandatory reporter – we are all obligated to intervene when we see a child in danger,
but we don’t always know what to look for. When only one in ten abused children reaches out for help,
we know that it falls to the adults to see the signs and make the call.”

At work in 48 states and 10 countries, the Stewards of Children program is designed to teach
adults the signs of child sex abuse to prevent it and report suspected incidents. The program highlights
facts about abuse, common situations in which it occurs, ways to talk to children and adults about it,
and simple and effective protection strategies. Taught by trained facilitators to the general public, the
program is brief, inexpensive, and effective. Participants report a 38% increase in knowledge and
attitudes about child sex abuse.

“Prevent Child Abuse Delaware is delighted to be involved with its partners in this important
child sexual abuse prevention initiative, “ said Karen DeRasmo, the organization’s Executive Director.
“The Stewards of Children project represents the joint venture of several groups working throughout
the state to create safer communities for our children. The goal of this project is to reach the ‘tipping
point,’ as described in the work of Malcolm Gladwell, by educating approximately 35,000 adults about
the tools and knowledge they need to keep children safe.”

Michael Graves, President of YMCA of Delaware, said, “The Y’s three impact focus areas are
youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Y believes preventing sexual child
abuse is a community social responsibility necessary for healthy youth development. With 40,000
adult Y members across the state we believe we can help operationalize this evidence based effort to
reach the goal of training 35,000 people. Achieving the goal is not possible without numerous
collaborations and partnerships.”

All reports of child abuse and neglect in the State of Delaware should be made to the 24 hour
Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-292-9582. Individuals and organizations can learn more
about the Stewards of Children program and schedule a training session by calling Prevent Child
Abuse Delaware at 302-425-7490 or visiting www.pcadelaware.org.
# # #

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Biden, Community Leaders Launch Collaboration to Protect Children from Abuse

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Wednesday, September 7, 2011



Biden, Community Leaders Launch Collaboration to Protect Children from Abuse
Stewards of Children program aims to train 35,000 Delawareans

Wilmington – Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, child advocates and community leaders today
announced a coordinated initiative to educate tens of thousands of Delaware adults about recognizing
the signs of child sexual abuse and reporting suspected crimes. The partnership, which includes
Prevent Child Abuse Delaware, the YMCA of Delaware and the Attorney General’s Office, aims to
train 35,000 Delawareans, or about 5% of the state’s population, in the Stewards of Children sexual
abuse prevention curriculum.

“It is not a child’s job to protect him or herself from abuse, it’s our job. This program gives
adults the tools and the information we need to protect kids,” said Attorney General Biden. “Everyone
in Delaware is a mandatory reporter – we are all obligated to intervene when we see a child in danger,
but we don’t always know what to look for. When only one in ten abused children reaches out for help,
we know that it falls to the adults to see the signs and make the call.”

At work in 48 states and 10 countries, the Stewards of Children program is designed to teach
adults the signs of child sex abuse to prevent it and report suspected incidents. The program highlights
facts about abuse, common situations in which it occurs, ways to talk to children and adults about it,
and simple and effective protection strategies. Taught by trained facilitators to the general public, the
program is brief, inexpensive, and effective. Participants report a 38% increase in knowledge and
attitudes about child sex abuse.

“Prevent Child Abuse Delaware is delighted to be involved with its partners in this important
child sexual abuse prevention initiative, “ said Karen DeRasmo, the organization’s Executive Director.
“The Stewards of Children project represents the joint venture of several groups working throughout
the state to create safer communities for our children. The goal of this project is to reach the ‘tipping
point,’ as described in the work of Malcolm Gladwell, by educating approximately 35,000 adults about
the tools and knowledge they need to keep children safe.”

Michael Graves, President of YMCA of Delaware, said, “The Y’s three impact focus areas are
youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Y believes preventing sexual child
abuse is a community social responsibility necessary for healthy youth development. With 40,000
adult Y members across the state we believe we can help operationalize this evidence based effort to
reach the goal of training 35,000 people. Achieving the goal is not possible without numerous
collaborations and partnerships.”

All reports of child abuse and neglect in the State of Delaware should be made to the 24 hour
Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-292-9582. Individuals and organizations can learn more
about the Stewards of Children program and schedule a training session by calling Prevent Child
Abuse Delaware at 302-425-7490 or visiting www.pcadelaware.org.
# # #

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.