ALL TRAININGS ARE NOW VIRTUAL!
This newly updated 3 hour Stewards of Children training was launched January 2024.
Whether this is your first time being SCARS certified, or it has been 3 years since your last training session – this training is for you!
Once you have registered for a training session and you have not received a confirmation email within 2 working days, please check your ‘Spam/Junk’ folder, email Helen@scars.bm to confirm registration.
Darkness to Light ‘Stewards of Children®’ is an evidence-informed, adult-focused prevention training solution, that teaches adults how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. The training is designed for organizations that serve youth and are entrusted with the care of children, and for parents and individuals concerned about the safety of children. It is the only nationally distributed, evidence-informed program proven to increase knowledge, improve attitudes, and change child protective behaviors.
Some of the outcomes of the program are as follows:
- Increased awareness of the prevalence, consequences, and circumstances of child sexual abuse
- New skills for adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse
- Positive change to organizational policies and procedures
- Individual commitment to action through a personal prevention plan
(Spaces are limited and fill up very quickly – You will not be registered until the form below has been submitted and you have received a confirmation email)
Participants must attend and be fully visible in camera for the full3 hour virtual training to receive a SCARS certificate. If you arrive late, once the first video is playing, unfortunately you will not be able to enter the virtual training room and will need to register for another session.
To be fair to all participants, we can only issue certifications to those who are fully present and engaged for the duration of the session. This means not being in a moving vehicle, or multitasking such as, cooking, doing laundry, laying down, etc. If you can’t commit to actively participating, and being seen on camera, then we respectfully request that you sign up for a training at another time.
Since many youth serving organizations require a SCARS certification, it is important that we maintain the integrity of our certification process. As such, if you are unable to comply it may necessitate your removal from the training session.
This training is for adults only. Please be mindful of your surroundings and make sure it is private and uninterruptable from children, We really do appreciate your assistance with this, as the information in the training may be very disturbing to children. We strongly encourage headphones, if necessary.
Participants are welcome to share the same device during the session, as long as everyone is visible, but because of sound feedback no more that 2 participants per device.
If you would like to arrange a private virtual training session for a group or your youth serving organization (minimum of 20 participants) please email Helen@scars.bm
Although there is a cost to SCARS, we continue to raise funds so that no member of our Bermuda community or anyone that works with Bermuda’s children has to pay for our virtual training sessions. We are grateful to our corporate and community donors!
Training Testimonials
This virtual session was not only informative but very educational. A country is only as strong as its children, and it shed light on how important it is to not just nurture but prepare for the unfortunate events of life. (Feb 2023)
"I am so thankful for this eye opening opportunity. This training is of utmost importance to create consciousness around our community to understand how child abuse can be so easily hidden without the proper understanding of how to identify the warning signs. This training needs to reach every parent and caregiver, SCARS is doing a phenomenal job. Thank you." (March 2022)
"I really loved this training and wish that it was mandatory for everyone on the island to bring awareness and a safer environment. Thank you Helen and Debi!!! I really appreciated today and the words you said resonated with me. Knowing that I am not alone meant a lot and I will remember this for a very long time."
This three hour training course provided me with an understanding about child abuse and prevention that I previously did not have. It is a critical course that all adults should take and will benefit from and thus will help children. It was facilitated with expert knowledge, compassion and understanding. As a mother of two girls, age 6 and 9, I found it very difficult to hear the testimonials, but I am so grateful to all who shared their experiences in this training course, as they have given me the starting tools to look out for and care for my children and all other children. Thank you SCARS for the incredibly important work that you are doing. (SOC Aug 2022)
Such a difficult and challenging subject handled so carefully and professionally. It is amazing what you are doing at SCARS, really changing things in an impactful way! Thank you! (Aug 2023)
The stories told were real eye openers and it made me view a lot of my troubled students differently as far as their behaviour. I would like to better understand them and be more lenient with them just in case they are secretly hurting from trauma. (SOC Sept 2022)
My wife and I got Scars certified back in 2014 before we had kids. Now that we have a 4 and almost 7 year old, I think it's vitally important that anyone in the same position be Scars trained. I had to get recertified because of a youth sports organization where I volunteer, but the training really resonated with me as a parent. I am already approaching certain things differently. (Feb 2023)
I'm happy I made the decision to be trained with SCARS. I am the father of a nine year old son and I function as a single parent, and I would do everything within my power to keep him safe. My biggest takeaway: the benefits children gain outweighs any risk I must take to protect them. (July 2023)
This SCARS training was really impactful and important. I have done several safeguarding courses over the years as a teacher in the UK but they were not nearly as well done and impactful. It was so important to learn about sexual abuse on its own rather than group all forms of abuse together as it allowed the depth and understanding to come from this. It was very well run and Debi and Helen were brilliant. Thank you very much (June 2022)
Despite being 3 hours long, I felt that the content necessary to give deep understanding to participants and adequately prepare them for the protection of children was condensed excellently and discussed in a way that allowed the information to be concise and meaningful. well done and thank you! (July 2022)
Any community member and especially parents can absolutely benefit from this knowledge. 3 hours went quickly and was absolutely not wasted! Cheers to your continued efforts. (Feb 2023)
I am happy I understood the different form of abuse and also that speaking up for children and protecting them is my responsibility. (Aug 2023)
"This session was thoroughly worth the 3 hours. The virtual environment was so calm and organized. The facilitators were so professional. During the whole experience, I learned a lot. I appreciate the virtual training kit, so much information. I think the Scars Training is an excellent program and should be implemented world to all who will work or enteract with children." (March 2022)
Facilitators were highly efficient knowledgeable and were warm and receptive to all the attendees’ comments/questions. (SOC Aug 2022)
Thank you for your valuable time and patience. While I have never experienced abuse of any kind. Attending this training for the second time makes me more aware of what is happening in Bermuda and I hope that I can help make a difference to protect children and vulnerable and potential victims. Thanks again. 🤗🌷🤗 (June 2022)
This training should be mandated for all who are in contact with children - Teachers, Pastors, Healthcare workers etc. (Feb 2023)