“An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.”

Benjamin Franklin

Education & Outreach

The first step toward reducing the staggering number of abuse victims is through education and awareness.

Too many cases of child sexual abuse go unreported. Many adults charged with safeguarding our most vulnerable population don’t recognize the signs and symptoms of abuse or don’t know how to respond. Some are afraid to get involved, not realizing the devastating consequences to a child when an adult doesn’t have the courage to take action on a child’s behalf.

The Valley CAC provides training and outreach to parents, professionals, community groups, and faith-based organizations throughout Staunton, Waynesboro, Augusta County, Buena Vista, Lexington, and Rockbridge County.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
—Nelson Mandela

Training and Resources

The agency’s Education and Outreach Program is committed to providing our community with knowledge about the dynamics and myths of the complex issue of child sexual abuse, as well as what to look for and how to respond if sexual abuse is suspected. We offer a variety of trainings, including Darkness to Light’s “Stewards of Children” or other customized trainings according to your specific needs.

We are committed to providing our families with all the tools they need to address a myriad of issues they may be facing due to the abuse experienced. Therefore, we have created a series entitled “Let’s Talk.” These short videos are provided to families with children receiving counseling services at the Valley CAC and are meant to be supplemental education, giving a starting place for conversations around these difficult topics. These videos can be found on our YouTube channel.

Tours

The Valley CAC does very specialized work, which is not widely known or easily described. Sometimes, in order to truly feel the impact of what we do, it is beneficial to come and see the welcoming and child-focused setting we have created here. We greatly enjoy giving tours to community members, businesses, and local organizations interested in the work we do. Due to the confidential nature of our work, we kindly require that you schedule a tour ahead of time.

Any organization or individual that wishes to increase their knowledge in these areas by requesting a training or scheduling a tour may contact our Education and Outreach Coordinator:

Charlé Johnson

charle@valleychildrenscenter.org