The Hall County Health Department has achieved “Partner in Prevention,” a nationally-recognized public standard to end child sexual abuse.
The designation was awarded for the department’s commitment to protecting children by training over 90-percent of its staff and volunteers to how to prevent, recognize the signs, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.
“Partner in Prevention” was created as a national standard to help parents and caregivers recognize organizations who take CSA prevention seriously by implementing policy and training staff. The training and designation award is provided by Charleston, SC-based Darkness to Light (D2L). D2L has championed the movement to end child sexual abuse since its founding in 2000 and now has education programs in 49 states and 15 foreign countries.
“Participating in the Darkness to Light program supports the mission of public health to Inform, Prevent and Protect residents,” said Dr. David Westfall, District 2 Health Director. “Completing this training highlights the commitment of our health department staff to gain new skills to improve our ability to serve residents in our community.”
To learn more about CSA prevention training or to enroll your organization in D2L’s “Partner in Prevention” program, please visit www.d2l.org. Please also contact D2L Program Coordinator Erika Rowell at 842-965-5444.
The Hall County Sheriff's Office has also been designated a "Partner in Prevention," the first law enforcement agency in northeast Georgia to achieve the distinction. Click here to read that story.
About Child Sexual Abuse (CSA)
Crime and behavioral studies have long cited child sexual abuse for its devastating impact on society. Statistics are startling. According to the Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse & Neglect:
- 95% of abuse is by someone the child knows and trusts.
- 73% of children don’t tell anyone until well after the abuse has occurred, if they tell at all.
- Statistically, approximately 500,000 babies born in the U.S. each year will be sexually abused before they reach age 18.
- In the U.S. alone, there are an estimated 42 million adult survivors of child sexual abuse.
- CSA is linked to a host of social issues including teen pregnancy, psychiatric disorders and substance abuse.
- CSA ranks second to murder as the most expensive victim crime in the U.S., where costs exceed $35 billion annually.
