Sharon Gets Pro-Active Against Child Sexual Abuse

One in four women and one in six men are sexually abused before age 18, studies show.

An effort organized by the Hockomock Area YMCA seeks to begin creating “meaningful change” in Sharon and four other local communities within three to five years, agency Vice President for Child Protection and Social Responsibility Tony Calcia says.

The Y is offering Darkness to Light’s “Stewards of Children” child sexual abuse prevention training program to adults in Sharon, North Attleboro, , Mansfield and Franklin, Calcia says.

Sharon selectmen recently approved Sharon’s participation. Selectman Walter “Joe” Roach Jr. said the board would help in “any way that we possibly can to get this off the ground.”

“It sounds like a great program, and prevention is the best way,” Chairman Richard Powell said.

Darkness to Light is a non-profit group seeking “to empower adults through awareness and educational programs to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to childhood sexual abuse,” according to its website.

Calcia said the two-and-a-half hour training features videos of adult survivors.

A meeting this fall would introduce adults from throughout Sharon to the program and then start offering training, he said.

“It’s not a teacher problem. It’s not a coach problem. It’s not a church problem. It’s not a YMCA problem. It’s a community problem. It’s a society problem,” Calcia said.

“As adults, we have the power to affect the environment that children participate in.”