A highly-qualified early childhood educator, one who knows how to create a dynamic, accountable learning environment, is at the heart of a high-quality early learning experience. Professional development opportunities are key to keeping staff informed and engaged in their work. Keeping children safe and happy is the main concern for all early childhood educators.
This winter Addison County focused on offering several professional development opportunities for area caregivers. One of those offerings was the Act 1 training through Prevent Child Abuse Vermont (PCAV).
Prevent Child Abuse Vermont
For nearly four decades, Prevent Child Abuse Vermont has been working effectively to prevent child abuse and neglect through education, support and public awareness in Vermont.
The goals of PCAV are:
- End the generational cycle of abuse.
- Train all who interact with children on proven methods to prevent child abuse and neglect.
- Empower children to be heard.
Prevent Child Abuse Vermont, takes a comprehensive, health-based approach to prevention. All sexual abuse programming emphasizes:
- Adult responsibility to protect children
- Training for those who care for children
- Developmentally on target instruction for children
- Victim and victimizer prevention
- The prevention of child-to-child sexual abuse
- Trauma-informed practice
The prevention of sexual abuse is complicated because there are so many cultural and historical variables at play. At the same time, it is encouraging to note that there are some simple steps that can be begin taken immediately that will help protect children from abuse. PCAV education helps children to enjoy healthy and happy relationships – this also means raising children in ways that will help them avoid developing any abusive behaviors.
This winter over 40 early childhood educators in Addison County took part in Act 1 trainings.
WCSA: Act 1-What is Child Sexual Abuse?
Participants discussed the following:
- a) Child sexual abuse and the grooming process
- b) Determine how to respond to incidents of potential child sexual abuse. Through talking about child sexual abuse and how it happens.
- c) Those attending developed skills to recognize abusive behaviors and signs of abuse.
- d) Participants learned the proper response to concerning situations, and how to give healthy messages to children as part of prevention.
This program is particularly geared for infant through after school teachers and care givers and those who support them.
Prevent Child Abuse Vermont offers a series of workshops for early childhood educators, caregivers and parents in healthy sexual development and social/emotional skills to prevent child sexual abuse. Included are Nurturing Healthy Sexual Development, Understanding and Responding to the Sexual Behavior of Children, Overcoming Barriers to Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse, Act 1/Commit Kids, and The Strengthening Families Approach in Action, Informed Supervision of Juveniles with Sexual Behavior Problems, and Protecting Children with Disabilities from Child Sexual Abuse.
For more information about these programs or others from PCAVT please visit their website or call 1(800) CHILDREN VT or locally 802-229-5724.
