The following information is provided by Darkness to Light
During the pilot phase of the Stewards of Children Program there was a comprehensive evaluation conducted with a variety of participants. The evaluation measured level of knowledge before and after the training, knowledge retention two months after the training, change in behaviours and the effectiveness of the training as perceived by the participants.
During the Stewards of Children pilot phase, nine pilot partners were recruited in the following contexts:
- Faith centers
- Schools
- Community-based youth programs
- Sports/recreational programs
These pilot partners represent diversity in the following areas:
- Gender
- Racial/ethnic
- Socioeconomic
- Geographic diversity
Pilot partners were asked to participate in pre-pilot assessments, as well as assessments immediately after completion of training and then again at a two-month delay.
What is the impact of Stewards of Children on knowledge and attitudes?
This is a statistically significant (t (476) = 27.61, p <. 000) increase of 36% in knowledge and attitudes.
How has Stewards of Children affected participants’ behaviors?
Two months after training, participants experience a less than 10% decrease in their knowledge gain and attitude change and show an increase in behaviors aimed at the prevention of sexual abuse. Specifically, they
- Discuss issues of sexual abuse with children and adult.
- Pay attention to potential signs of sexual abuse.
- Drop in unexpectedly when children are being supervised by other adults.
How did participants evaluate the Stewards of Children Curriculum?
Participants evaluated the effectiveness of the Stewards of Children curriculum and the efficiency of the training format, using a scale of 1 to 5. Participants felt that the greatest impact of the Stewards of Children program was in the following areas.
- Acquisition of new knowledge about child sexual abuse (avg = 4.31).
- The ideas of choice, power, and consciousness as critical elements (avg = 4.44).
- The potential to change attitudes about child sexual abuse (avg = 4.45).
- Critical issues for organizations and individuals concerned about the protection of children (avg = 4.27).
- Perspectives of survivor stories in the videotape (avg = 4.64).
- Perspectives of professionals and parents in the videotape (avg = 4.45).
