Incest Survivors Support Group
Incest refers to any sexual activity between closely related persons that is illegal or socially taboo. Consensual adult incest is very rare. Incest between adults and prepubescent or adolescent children is a form of child sexual abuse that has been shown to be one of the most extreme forms of childhood trauma. If you or a loved one is a survivor of incest, join the group...
A guide for responsible adults
7 steps to protecting our children
what is darkness to light?
We are a grassroots national non-profit organization based in Charleston, South
Carolina that seeks to protect children from sexual abuse by placing responsibility
squarely on adult shoulders. We educate adults to prevent, recognize and react
responsibly to child sexual abuse. This booklet is a way for you to begin.
What is child sexual abuse?
Any sexual act between an adult and a minor or between two minors when one
exerts power over the other.
Forcing, coercing or persuading a child to engage in any type of sexual act. This,
of course, includes sexual contact. It also includes non-contact acts such as
exhibitionism, exposure to pornography, voyeurism and communicating in a sexual
manner by phone or Internet.
An agonizing and traumatic experience for its victims.
A crime punishable by law.
This booklet is only the beginning.
Child sexual abuse is a very complex problem, and this booklet touches on only
a small part of it. The information we provide is not a substitute for the advice of
professionals. It is only to give you simple, proactive steps to help protect children.
Darkness to Light
7 Radcliffe Street, Suite 200
Charleston, SC 29403
2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Darkness to Light. All models are for
illustrative purposes only.
The references for this booklet can be found in the 7 Steps portion of the Darkness
to Light website, www.darkness2light.org/7steps/7steps bibliography.asp.
7 Radcliffe Street, Suite 200 Charleston, SC 29403 darkness2light.org
Larry Ayres
Senior Vice President
Government Relations
Adecco Group North America
Kimberly Bealle
Director of Innovation
Just Kid, Inc.
Tom Bradford
Senior Broadcast Executive and
Network Television News Producer
Nancy Chandler
Executive Director
National Childrens Alliance
David Finkelhor, PhD
Director
Crimes Against Children Research Center
University of New Hampshire
Jesse Kornbluth
Writer
Layton McCurdy, M.D.
Dean Emeritus
Professor of Psychiatry
Medical University of South Carollina
Terry McDevitt
Media and Marketing Consultant
Barbara McEntee
Department of Speech
and Communication
San Francisco State University
Lois Beekman Oliveira
Media and Marketing Consultant
Steve Pasierb
President/CEO
Partnership for a Drug Free America
Claire Reeves
Founder and President
Mothers Against Sexual Abuse
Ben Saunders, PhD
Director
Family and Child Program
National Crime Victims Research and
Treatment Center
Jutta Sayles
President and Managing Partner
University Research Associates Rx, Inc.
Lori Warrens
211 Consulting
We would like to thank the following members of the Darkness to Light
National Advisory Committee for their feedback on Darkness to Lights
prevention programs.
Step 1. Learn the facts. Understand the risks.
Realities not trusts should influence your decisions
regarding children.
Step 2. Minimize opportunity.
If you eliminate or reduce one-adult/one-child situations, youll
dramatically lower the risk of sexual abuse for children.
Step 3. Talk about it.
Children often keep abuse secret, but barriers can be broken
down by talking openly about it..
Step 4. Stay alert.
Dont expect obvious signs when a child is being sexually abused.
Step 5. Make a plan.
Learn where to go, whom to call and how to react.
Step 6. Act on suspicions.
The future well-being of a child is at stake.
Step 7. Get involved.
Volunteer and financially support organizations that fight the
tragedy of child sexual abuse.
7 steps to protecting our children
7 steps to protecting our children
what is darkness to light?
We are a grassroots national non-profit organization based in Charleston, South
Carolina that seeks to protect children from sexual abuse by placing responsibility
squarely on adult shoulders. We educate adults to prevent, recognize and react
responsibly to child sexual abuse. This booklet is a way for you to begin.
What is child sexual abuse?
Any sexual act between an adult and a minor or between two minors when one
exerts power over the other.
Forcing, coercing or persuading a child to engage in any type of sexual act. This,
of course, includes sexual contact. It also includes non-contact acts such as
exhibitionism, exposure to pornography, voyeurism and communicating in a sexual
manner by phone or Internet.
An agonizing and traumatic experience for its victims.
A crime punishable by law.
This booklet is only the beginning.
Child sexual abuse is a very complex problem, and this booklet touches on only
a small part of it. The information we provide is not a substitute for the advice of
professionals. It is only to give you simple, proactive steps to help protect children.
Darkness to Light
7 Radcliffe Street, Suite 200
Charleston, SC 29403
2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Darkness to Light. All models are for
illustrative purposes only.
The references for this booklet can be found in the 7 Steps portion of the Darkness
to Light website, www.darkness2light.org/7steps/7steps bibliography.asp.
7 Radcliffe Street, Suite 200 Charleston, SC 29403 darkness2light.org
Larry Ayres
Senior Vice President
Government Relations
Adecco Group North America
Kimberly Bealle
Director of Innovation
Just Kid, Inc.
Tom Bradford
Senior Broadcast Executive and
Network Television News Producer
Nancy Chandler
Executive Director
National Childrens Alliance
David Finkelhor, PhD
Director
Crimes Against Children Research Center
University of New Hampshire
Jesse Kornbluth
Writer
Layton McCurdy, M.D.
Dean Emeritus
Professor of Psychiatry
Medical University of South Carollina
Terry McDevitt
Media and Marketing Consultant
Barbara McEntee
Department of Speech
and Communication
San Francisco State University
Lois Beekman Oliveira
Media and Marketing Consultant
Steve Pasierb
President/CEO
Partnership for a Drug Free America
Claire Reeves
Founder and President
Mothers Against Sexual Abuse
Ben Saunders, PhD
Director
Family and Child Program
National Crime Victims Research and
Treatment Center
Jutta Sayles
President and Managing Partner
University Research Associates Rx, Inc.
Lori Warrens
211 Consulting
We would like to thank the following members of the Darkness to Light
National Advisory Committee for their feedback on Darkness to Lights
prevention programs.
Step 1. Learn the facts. Understand the risks.
Realities not trusts should influence your decisions
regarding children.
Step 2. Minimize opportunity.
If you eliminate or reduce one-adult/one-child situations, youll
dramatically lower the risk of sexual abuse for children.
Step 3. Talk about it.
Children often keep abuse secret, but barriers can be broken
down by talking openly about it..
Step 4. Stay alert.
Dont expect obvious signs when a child is being sexually abused.
Step 5. Make a plan.
Learn where to go, whom to call and how to react.
Step 6. Act on suspicions.
The future well-being of a child is at stake.
Step 7. Get involved.
Volunteer and financially support organizations that fight the
tragedy of child sexual abuse.
7 steps to protecting our children
Refuse2quit
It was a shocking revalation
A.) most people here use drugs... and in this tiny town, most of the drug use in the state started here!!!
B.) we also have the highest rates of abuse in the state.
C.) 1 of every 3 abuse survivors who admit it, are male.
But the most important thing I learned?
Everyone in this area came here to escape abuse and brought it with them denying it ever happened.. it's perpetuated by their lack of understanding personal boundaries.
They trust their illusions, more than the voices of their families/children. They don't speak out because they were punished for it.. They don't seek help, because their case isn't as bad as the other guy's was...
Please, please, speak out, seek help, set good boundaries, trust that a person wouldn't "make up" a story of abuse!! Most of all, protect the ones who can't protect themselves, even if it means leaving the one you thought loved you.