The Child Advocacy Center of Niagara, a service of Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, will observe April as Child Abuse Prevention Month by offering the acclaimed Stewards of Children program at three sites in Niagara County.
Stewards of Children is a national program designed to help adults better protect children from sexual abuse. More than a million adults have completed the training.
Using a "real-world" approach that integrates stories of sexual abuse survivors with the perspective of professionals who interface daily with the problem of sexual child abuse, the training recognizes adults have the primary responsibility for protecting children.
"We receive many requests for ways children should be taught to protect themselves. While we believe that children should be informed about abuse and protective measures, we as adults need to protect children from abuse," said Child Advocacy Center Executive Director Ann Marie Tucker.
Sessions will be held:
•April 18 from 2-3:45 p.m. at the Lockport Public Library Community Room
•April 26 from 2-3:45 p.m. at the Niagara Falls Public Library
•April 30 from 2-3:45 p.m. in the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Auditorium
Jackie Pritchard, an authorized program facilitator, will lead the sessions.
The Child Advocacy Center has trained more 500 educators, childcare providers, faith community members and other caring adults in the Stewards of Children curriculum.
"When we prevent child sexual abuse, we address a root cause of social problems like violent crime, homelessness, teen pregnancy and substance abuse," Pritchard said. "People who have taken the training say it sends a powerful message and should be taken by all those who take care of children and youth."
An interactive workbook will be provided to each participant through a grant from the Niagara Area Foundation.
Concerned community members are invited to attend the April sessions. Pre-register online on the "Classes & Events" page at
NFMMC.org or by calling the Child Advocacy Center at 716-285-0045.
The Child Advocacy Center, a service of Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, provides a child-focused facility designed to coordinate a multidisciplinary response to reports of physical and sexual child abuse of children as well as cases where a child has witnessed domestic violence or has experienced trafficking. The center is a Darkness to Light affiliate, authorized to facilitate Stewards of Children training. To learn more, visit CACofNiagara.org.
