NCAC Program To Keep Kids Safe From Sexual Abuse

NCAC Program To Keep Kids Safe From Sexual Abuse

New this evening -- we learned about a program the national children's advocacy center offers right here in huntsville to anyone in the community who wants to do more to keep kids safe from sexual abuse.

It's called the stewards of children program.

Waay 31's sydney martin talked to the center today about the program and learned more about how it has adjusted to keep going throughout the pandemic.

Pam clasgens, ncac community awareness & prevention director, "you don't have to work with kids or volunteer with kids to get something out of this training.

You don't even have to be a parent.

Anyone who is around kids at all if you know this information you are better equipped to protect kids at any point in your life."

Pam clasgens is the community awareness and prevention director at the national chldren's advocacy center.

Child sexual abuse doesn't stop during a coronavirus pandemic, so the stewards of children program is offered virtually so training to protect children can continue.

Pam clasgens, ncac community awareness & prevention director, "sexual abuse is an ongoing problem in our community and in every community across the country and as i said, 1 in 10 children is going to be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.

We don't want to see that happen.

We want to protect kids and we want everyone to know how to make that happen."

The program features real people and stories to provide expert advice and guidance to community members about how to protect children from sexual abuse.

Pam clasgens, ncac community awareness & prevention director, "it's essentially child sexual abuse prevention training for adults.

This training is appropriate for parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, anybody who works with or volunteers with kids in any setting."

Clasgens told me they discuss simple strategies with participants on how to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse..

Pam clasgens, ncac community awareness & prevention director, "as adults who care about kids, we can learn, these signs of manipulation or behavior, that's not appropriate and we can step up and say something about it.

And she said because sexual abuse can happen anywhere, she said if you spot innapropiate behavor it's important to say something about it to hopefully prevent the abuse from happening... pam clasgens, ncac community awareness & prevention director, "and if we as adults in this community can step up and speak up and point out that's really not okay, we really shouldn't talk to kids that way and then just move on that sets everyone on notice that we're watching for that kind of behavior and we are going to speak up if we see it."

"the program is provided by a grant that the national children's advocacy center receives, and they ask participants who are able to to make a 10-dollar donation to keep the program going.

In huntsville sm waay 31 news.

" we've posted information on our website about how you can contact the national children's advocacy center