Darkness to Light

We’re celebrating our incredible Certified Instructors leading the way in !

Meet Jamie SanFilippo, the Director of Community Outreach at the YMCA of Centre County in Bellefonte, PA. For nearly 10 years, Jamie has been a champion of child safety as a Darkness to Light Certified Instructor.

When Jamie is not instructing, you can find her embracing nature as a passionate fly-fishing guide.

Join us in honoring leaders like Jamie, whose dedication inspires us daily!

Meet Our 2024 TCS NYC Marathon Team! ⤵️

We're thrilled to introduce you to our incredible team of advocates like Rochelle! 🎉 Starting her running journey over 20 years ago, Rochelle is honored and excited to use running for a cause that affects many and to make a difference for children who oftentimes have no voice.

Join us in cheering for Rochelle and our incredible team: https://ow.ly/IMG150TncuV

💬 Peer-on-peer abuse is a tough conversation, but one we must have. ⬇️

In our final , let’s help kids think through situations they may face this school year and encourage open, honest conversations.

The STOP approach—Safety, Tell, Open, and Praise—provides a supportive framework:

S: Reassure your child this should never be something they deal with alone.

T: Emphasize that by telling a safe adult, measures can be taken to correct this violation.

O: Let them know this is a scary and complicated situation, and you are here to help them navigate through it.

P: Tell them that they are making the right choice by reporting what you saw, and commend them for taking that important step.

💡Learn more about navigating peer-on-peer abuse this season: https://ow.ly/Po5t50T3uzp

Happening Today! Our Honest Conversations webinar is just hours away. Join us online at 11 a.m. EST for an important discussion on how to keep children safe. We’ll cover resources on online safety, upstander interventions, recognizing healthy behavior, and minimizing risks in peer interactions.

We’re almost at max capacity on Zoom, but no worries—if you can’t join us there, you can still catch the live stream on Facebook!

Our Honest Conversations webinar series is back!

Join us on Wednesday, September 18, for a special discussion on navigating peer-on-peer abuse with guests from the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, Stop It Now!, and Thorn.

🔗 Register now: https://ow.ly/FjA650TjqIz

Hispanic Heritage Month is here, and Darkness to Light is celebrating by honoring the voices and stories within the Hispanic community while shining a spotlight on the critical need for to protect every child’s future.

Stay tuned for powerful conversations and exciting updates on Guardianes de los Niños®, our culturally responsive training program for Spanish-speaking adults! 💙

Learn more ➡️ bit.ly/D2LHispanicHeritage

Hispanic Heritage Month 2024 When you give to Darkness to Light during Hispanic Heritage Month, you’re not just making a donation—you’re joining a movement to protect future generations.

Children who experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse and neglect are 2-3x more likely to attempt su***de later in life.

This , let’s commit to creating safe environments and supporting children on all journeys. How we react today can make all the difference in their future. 💜

Learn more 👇

How We React and Respond Makes a Difference Adverse Childhood Experiences, like child sexual abuse, increase the risk for several things including su***de.

💬 Peer-on-peer abuse is a tough conversation, but one we must have. ⬇️

This , let’s help kids think through situations they may face this school year and encourage open, honest conversations.

The STOP approach—Safety, Tell, Open, and Praise—provides a supportive framework:

S: Emphasize practical steps, such as quickly getting to a spot where there are other people.

T: Hold space for your child to tell you exactly what happened. Avoid leading questions or making suggestions about what happened.

O: Keep the conversation calm and reassuring. Validate their feelings after the fact.

P: Let them know you are proud of how they handled this situation, and most importantly, you are happy they are safe.

💡Learn more about navigating peer-on-peer abuse this season: https://ow.ly/Po5t50T3uzp

Our Honest Conversations webinar series is back!

Join us on Wednesday, September 18, for a special discussion on navigating peer-on-peer abuse with guests from the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, Stop It Now!, and Thorn.

🔗 Register now: https://ow.ly/FjA650TjqIz

Meet Our 2024 TCS NYC Marathon Team! ⤵️

We're thrilled to introduce you to our incredible team of advocates like RJ! 🎉 As an avid runner for the last 15 years, RJ is running with Darkness to Light to help protect our most vulnerable, our children. The NYC Marathon will be his first major marathon!

Join us in cheering for RJ and our incredible team: https://ow.ly/xeln50ThUFw

💬 Peer-on-peer abuse is a tough conversation, but one we must have. ⬇️

This , let’s help kids think through situations they may face this school year and encourage open, honest conversations.

The STOP approach—Safety, Tell, Open, and Praise—provides a supportive framework:

S: Emphasize the importance of trusting instincts and setting clear boundaries.

T: Encouraging them to come to you will help strengthen their trust in you and build their confidence in trusting their own instincts.

O: Remind them that they can always call you, no matter the time.

P: Thank them for telling. It’s not always easy to know what to do, but boundaries and safety are the top priority.

💡Learn more about navigating peer-on-peer abuse this season: https://ow.ly/Po5t50T3uzp

✉️ Our latest It Takes Courage Newsletter is packed with back-to-school resources, essential training updates, and more. Don't miss this month's highlights!

👉 Missed it in your inbox? Catch up here: https://ow.ly/uaSk50T9nMc

National Grief Awareness Day is a reminder to embrace conversations about loss and stand by those who are grieving. Whether you're supporting someone with lived experience or navigating your own grief, remember: you are not alone.

Sending you light, encouragement, and hope today and always. ✨

If you need support, call 800.656.HOPE (4673) or text 'HOME' to 741741 for free, confidential, 24/7 services. Trained crisis counselors are always here for you. 💛

💬 Peer-on-peer abuse is a tough conversation, but one we must have. ⬇️

This , let’s help kids think through situations they may face this school year and encourage open, honest conversations.

The STOP approach—Safety, Tell, Open, and Praise—provides a supportive framework:

S: Reassure your child that they have the right to feel safe.

T: Encourage them to tell a safe adult right away, like a coach, teacher, or you as their parent.

O: It’s always better to share feelings with someone you trust.

P: Praise them for thinking about safety and being brave enough to talk about tough situations.

💡Learn more about navigating peer-on-peer abuse this season: https://ow.ly/Po5t50T3uzp

We’re partnering with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to help parents, guardians, and educators prioritize as kids head back to school.

Don’t miss our joint Q&A on Wednesday, Aug. 28, from 2-3pm EST on X (Twitter). Let’s work together to keep our children safe!

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Darkness to Light has proudly partnered with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse for .

In June, we gathered in person in Washington, D.C. to discuss the future of . Together with advocates, practitioners, researchers, survivors, authors, and others in the field, we shared valuable insights and strategies to create safer environments for children.

✨ Check out our important takeaways from this impactful event:

The Future of Prevention: Our Envision Experience - Darkness to Light For the last few years, Darkness to Light has had the honor of partnering with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Moore Center for...

Our Facilitator Network is growing! Don’t miss your chance to bring to your community—sign up for a September Workshop today 👇

https://ow.ly/EC9Y50T4BxQ

Meet Our 2024 TCS NYC Marathon Team! ⤵️

We're thrilled to introduce you to our incredible team of advocates like Katie! 🎉 Much of Katie's stems from a family member bringing their story of childhood sexual abuse to light. It completely changed her perspective on what it means to be brave and how bravery can be expressed through running.

Join us in cheering for Katie and our incredible team: https://ow.ly/aHrm50T4Aet

It's not an easy , but it's a necessary one. ⬇️

With peer-on-peer child sexual abuse on the rise over the past decade, the start of a new school year is the perfect time to ask ourselves:

- What does this trend mean for our children?
- How can we, as adults, create safer environments?
- What should we be mindful of when children are left with peers?

Don’t miss our new weekly series on navigating peer-on-peer abuse this season, and check out our latest for more insights: https://ow.ly/Po5t50T3uzp

Today is National Nonprofit Day—a day to honor the incredible strides we've made together in the fight against child sexual abuse 🕯️✨

Your support us to break the silence and equip adults with the tools to protect children. Will you help us achieve our shared vision of a world FREE from child sexual abuse?

👉 GIVE NOW: bit.ly/d2lgiving
📱TEXT: SAFEKIDS to 5129205521

Celebrating National Nonprofit Day with Darkness to Light Your support changes lives, and with a generous gift in honor of National Nonprofit Day, you will help Darkness to Light and our partners deliver our training to countless communities.

Final Reminder 🚨 Applications for the 2024 Stewards of Children® Advocacy Award are due August 15!

If you're a dedicated advocate or organization, now is your chance to secure funds to support your journey.

Apply today ➡️ d2l.org/advocacy-collaborative/

Darkness to Light's Advocacy Collaborative Giving Back Through Our Advocacy Collaborative We are thrilled to announce the launch of Darkness to Light’s Advocacy Collaborative, our new...

Meet Our 2024 TCS NYC Marathon Team! ⤵️

We're thrilled to introduce you to our incredible team of advocates like Preston! 🎉 With a career in faith and nonprofit organizations, Preston currently works in fundraising at a foster agency in Chicago that specializes in keeping siblings together in foster care. Preston is running for Darkness to Light because child sexual abuse has impacted the lives of too many people he knows.

Join us in cheering for Preston and our incredible team: https://ow.ly/2t2o50SV9ew

"Let’s protect a child’s right to a healthy childhood. Together."

Discover our Path to Prevention with CEO Rhonda Newton's latest message of growth, building connections, and making a positive impact in the year ahead. 🌟

Read the post here 👉

Looking Ahead in Fiscal Year 25 with CEO Rhonda Newton Can you believe it’s August already with Darkness to Light already logging the first month of our FY25 in the books? It feels like we only just...

Exciting News – Darkness to Light is Giving Back! 👏

Our new external advisory group, dedicated to managing and facilitating access to resources that support our mission, has launched its 2024 Stewards of Children® Advocacy Award. 🌟

Applications are NOW OPEN, allowing dedicated advocates and organizations to apply for funds to support their journey. 💪

Learn more and today at www.d2l.org/advocacy-collaborative/

Darkness to Light's Advocacy Collaborative Giving Back Through Our Advocacy Collaborative We are thrilled to announce the launch of Darkness to Light’s Advocacy Collaborative, our new...

✉️ Have you seen July's It Takes Courage Newsletter? It's filled with exciting updates, essential resources, and ways you can get involved to support our mission. Don't miss out on this month's highlights!

👉 Missed it in your inbox? Read it here: https://ow.ly/xOMH50SMs67

Welcome to D.C. for ! Darkness to Light is thrilled to join this year's Envision Conference as an official collaborator. This week, we will have the opportunity to engage in critical conversations with world leaders and advocates to make child sexual abuse preventable, not inevitable. 🌍✨

Follow along over the next few days as we highlight our experience!