"Childhoods Are Worth Protecting" campaign examines what survivor experiences can teach schools, faith communities, and the justice system.
CHARLESTON, S.C., Nov. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Schools, faith communities, and the justice system have a profound responsibility to protect children. When those institutions fail, what needs to change—and how can adults help prevent the next failure?
This giving season, Darkness to Light's "Childhoods Are Worth Protecting" campaign is bringing those questions forward through survivor stories, prevention education, and Honoring Their Voices, a three-part virtual conversation series focused on institutional responsibility and meaningful change.
Child sexual abuse is a preventable public health crisis with consequences that can affect survivors' physical health, mental health, and well-being throughout their lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 90% of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone known and trusted by the child or the child's family—making prevention a critical responsibility within the very relationships and institutions children depend on for safety.
"Trust is essential to childhood, but trust alone is not a safeguard," said Rhonda Newton, CEO of Darkness to Light. "The organizations we depend on to educate, nurture, and protect children must be willing to address concerning behavior and put children's safety ahead of reputation or comfort. Listening to survivors helps us understand where systems have failed—and what must change."
Survivor Experiences. Lessons for Prevention.
Moderated by child abuse expert and licensed therapist Monica Borunda, Honoring Their Voices will bring together survivors, advocates, and experts for three conversations:
- November 19 | Schools: Examining institutional failures in educational settings and the responsibility schools hold in protecting students.
- December 3 | Faith-Based Communities: Exploring barriers to prevention and how faith communities can strengthen safety and accountability.
- December 17 | The Justice System: Examining challenges survivors face when seeking justice and opportunities for a more responsive system.
The series connects lived experiences with practical questions for adults and organizations: Are boundaries consistently enforced? Are concerns taken seriously? Are children's needs guiding decisions?
Turning Concern Into Action
Childhoods Are Worth Protecting calls on adults to help preserve every child's opportunity to learn, play, trust, and grow safely. Through training and resources, including Stewards of Children®, Darkness to Light equips adults to recognize risks, strengthen safeguards, and respond responsibly to suspected abuse.
Throughout the giving season, individuals and organizations can participate by attending the series, pursuing prevention training, sharing resources, and donating to support prevention education.
To register, learn more, or support the campaign, visit bit.ly/ProtectChildhoods
Media Contact
Jessie Watford, Darkness to Light, 1 8505452561, [email protected], www.d2l.org
SOURCE Darkness to Light
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