<p>Widener University Delaware Law School is partnering with the Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children to host public sessions in <a href="http://www.d2l.org/site/c.4dICIJOkGcISE/b.6243681/k.86C/Child_Sexual_Abuse_Prevention_Training.htm">&ldquo;Stewards of Children&rdquo;</a> training. The initiative coincides with April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.<br /><br />The trainings are designed to educate adult members of the public about warning signs of child sexual abuse. The program was developed by Darkness to Light, a national nonprofit organization founded in 2000 that has been a leader in the movement to end child sexual abuse. Patricia Dailey Lewis, executive director of The Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children, who is a Delaware Law School adjunct professor and 1985 alumna, will facilitate the training.<br /><br />The trainings last 2 &frac12; hours and will be offered in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom in the Main Law Building at 4601 Concord Pike, Wilmington. They are open to public individuals and groups, who are encouraged to attend one of four available sessions:</p>
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<ul>
<li>Monday, April 11 at 1:30 p.m.</li>
<li>Tuesday, April 12 at 5:30 p.m.</li>
<li>Wednesday, April 13 at 11 a.m.</li>
<li>Thursday, April 14 at 7 p.m.</li>
</ul>
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<p>There is no cost to attend. Those planning to attend are asked to notify Constance Sweeney at the law school by email at <a href="mailto:cmsweeney@widener.edu">cmsweeney@widener.edu</a> or phone at 302.477.2177 so we may anticipate you for seating.<br /><br />The training is an evidence-informed program that teaches adults how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. It is designed for youth-serving organizations and for individuals concerned about children&rsquo;s safety. It includes a DVD presentation with commentary from sexual abuse survivors and experts in the field, as well as discussion that emphasizes important issues in prevention within the community and organizations that serve children. Participants use an interactive workbook that helps facilitate discussion, reinforce key concepts and serve as a future resource.<br /><br />The Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children and Delaware Law School will cover all material costs for the training sessions. The law school is strongly encouraging all staff, students and faculty to attend one of the sessions, said Dean Rodney A. Smolla, who is striving for 100 percent participation.<br /><br />&ldquo;This training experience is a valuable resource that we are fortunate to provide through this partnership with the Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children,&rdquo; Smolla said. &ldquo;It is an investment in our children and in ourselves to learn the signs of abuse and what to do when we suspect something isn&rsquo;t right. We have a moral obligation to speak up, and this training will instruct us on when, and how, to do that. I urge everyone at the law school and in our community to take advantage of it.&rdquo;<br /><br />The Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children was established in June 2015 as an operating non-profit to continue Beau Biden&rsquo;s commitment to protecting the most vulnerable among us, especially children who have fallen victim to abuse and neglect. The Foundation believes that no child should be threatened by a predator &ndash; either an adult or a peer &ndash; and that child abuse can be prevented through effectively educating adults and children, developing the next generation of child welfare professionals and strengthening child protection laws around the country.<br /><br />Stewards of Children&reg; is a training program created by Darkness to Light that teaches adults how to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. The training is designed for organizations that serve youth and for individuals concerned about the safety of children. It is the only nationally distributed, evidence-based program proven to increase knowledge, improve attitudes, and change child protective behaviors.<br /><br />Widener University is a metropolitan university that connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention, applied leadership, and experiential learning are key components of the Widener experience.&nbsp; Its Delaware Law School is the First State&rsquo;s only law school, providing juris doctor, legal graduate and paralegal degree programs with an emphasis on developing legal professionals who reflect the Delaware Way and its traditions of civility, integrity and mutual respect. The school offers signature programs in corporate and business law, environmental law, family health law and policy, and trial advocacy. Widener University is proud to be tobacco free. Visit <a href="{staticroot}">delawarelaw.widener.edu</a> for more information.<br /><br /></p>
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