Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced Darkness to Light, headquartered in Charleston, will receive a $461,208 grant to help combat child sexual abuse. The funds will be used to develop and implement a web-based training program to help employees and volunteers of youth/faith organizations prevent, recognize and respond to child sexual abuse. Adults who complete the online training program will be educated about the prevalence and consequences of child sexual abuse. As part of the program, each participant develops a personal ‘action plan’ to better safeguard children. The online training includes creative learning exercises and innovative experiential scenarios to teach adults how to recognize the signs of sexual abuse and what to do when abuse is discovered. At the end of every training program, participants are given a test to assess how much they have learned and where there is need for further review. With this training program adults around the country can be properly informed about child sexual abuse and provided with the necessary tools to protect children. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce. ####