Statement of Record Release
December 4, 2020
Contact:
Emily Charles
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Joseph J. Peters Institute Receives Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children© Program Grant
Workshop trains adults in Philadelphia to recognize and prevent child sexual abuse
PHILADELPHIA, PA. – Public Health Management Corporation subsidiary Joseph J. Peters Institute (JJPI), a nonprofit that helps individuals and families dealing with the effects of trauma, has been awarded a one-year Darkness to Light Stewards of Children© training grant from Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). JJPI will deliver the evidence-informed training program across Philadelphia to help service providers prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. In addition to service providers, JJPI aims at training parents, foster parents, legal guardians, adoptive parents etc. and teens to teach practical actions they can take to reduce instances of child sexual abuse in their organizations, families and communities.
The evidence-informed, two-hour workshop is interactive, featuring live trainers from JJPI, brief exercises and short videos with survivors of childhood sexual abuse, experts in the field and treatment providers.
“Unfortunately, child sexual abuse is a widespread problem, with an estimated one in four girls and one in six boys experiencing abuse before they turn 18,” said Ivan Haskell, Ph.D., JJPI Executive Director and grant program manager. “Thanks to the support of PCCD, JJPI has the opportunity to offer this impactful, education programming to help improve the safety of thousands of children throughout Philadelphia.”
Rates of child sex abuse in Philadelphia are among the highest in the state. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Philadelphia County experienced over 5,500 total reports of child abuse in 2018. JJPI plans to provide the Stewards of Children© training program to primary care, behavioral health, education and social services providers throughout the city. The program has been shown to reduce children’s risk of experiencing sexual abuse by teaching adults to spot potential signs of abuse to recognize those signs and to intervene.
Children and adolescents who are exposed to early traumas are at increased risk of subsequent relational violence, perpetrating relational violence and are also more likely to experience negative health and social outcomes. Identifying child victims early and providing them with needed resources and treatment can substantially improve outcomes.
Darkness to Light is a non-profit committed to empowering adults to prevent child sexual abuse. For more information about Stewards of Children©, please visit https://www.d2l.org/.
To inquire about the free training for your organization, please email Devynn Gray at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 215.701.1560 ext. 7662. Sign up for a training session on Eventbrite. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, all trainings currently are virtual.
About JJPI
Since 1955, the Joseph J. Peters Institute has been helping individuals and families heal by providing expert clinical care to people suffering the effects of trauma. The Institute is experienced in the prevention, treatment and research of sexual and interpersonal violence, post-traumatic stress disorder and other forms of trauma. The Joseph J. Peters Institute is a subsidiary of Public Health Management Corporation. For more information, visit jjp.org.
About PHMC
Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) is a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities. PHMC uses best practices and evidence-based guidelines to improve community health through direct service, partnership, innovation, policy, research, technical assistance and a prepared workforce. PHMC has served the region since 1972. For more information on PHMC, visit www.phmc.org.
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