Adult Programs
Empowering Adults to Create Safer Communities
At ECHO, we believe that prevention begins with education—and responsibility begins with us. That’s why we offer a dynamic curriculum of adult-focused trainings designed to equip individuals, families, professionals, and community members with the tools they need to recognize, prevent, and respond to child abuse and related challenges.
Our adult programs are evidence-based, trauma-informed, and designed to empower—not overwhelm. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, coach, social worker, or simply a concerned citizen, there’s a place for you in this work.
The adult curriculum includes the following six training presentations:
🛡️ 1. Everyone Has a Role
Child Abuse Recognition & Reporting
Every adult in Kentucky is a mandated reporter—and this training ensures you understand what that means and how to fulfill that responsibility with confidence and care.
In this engaging session, participants will:
- Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect
- Discuss real-life case examples that highlight the importance of reporting
- Understand the steps for reporting suspected abuse
- Learn what happens after a report is made
Everyone Has a Role reinforces that protecting children is a shared responsibility, and with the right tools, we all have the power to help.
🌟 2. Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children®
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention & Response
This nationally recognized, third-party evaluated program is designed to help adults prevent, recognize, and respond to child sexual abuse. Unlike fear-based approaches, this training is empowering and action-focused, helping adults step into their role as protectors and advocates.
You’ll learn:
- The five practical steps to protect children
- How to spot grooming behaviors
- What to do if a child discloses abuse
- How to create safer environments for children
Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children is available in both English and Spanish, and is ideal for youth-serving organizations, schools, churches, and caregivers.
💻 3. Cyber Safety 101
Navigating the Digital World with Confidence
As kids spend more time online, adults need to be ready to guide, protect, and empower them in the digital space. Cyber Safety 101 covers the essentials of digital parenting and online responsibility, including:
- How to keep personal information safe
- Setting healthy digital boundaries
- Recognizing online grooming tactics
- Encouraging good digital citizenship (‘netiquette’)
- Understanding Kentucky Sexting Statutes and legal risks
Whether you’re tech-savvy or not, Cyber Safety 101 provides practical, up-to-date guidance to help children stay safe online.
💬 4. Support Over Silence
From Bystander to Supporter
Ever seen a parent struggling in public and wanted to help—but weren’t sure how? This training empowers adults to respond to public moments of caregiver stress or child distress with compassion instead of judgment.
You’ll learn:
- How to recognize signs of caregiver or child overwhelm
- What to say (and what not to say) in the moment
- How small gestures can defuse tension and support families
- How to build a more compassionate community
Through role-play and real-life scenarios, participants gain the confidence to be a quiet hero in everyday situations. Support over Silence is a great way to learn to put ideas into practice.
☕ 5. Parent Café
Community, Conversation, and Confidence for Caregivers
Parent Café is a unique, roundtable-style experience where caregivers come together to talk honestly about parenting, share insights, and build resilience. Rooted in the Six Protective Factors, this program is about strength—not perfection.
Topics include:
- Managing stress and building resilience
- Understanding child development
- Strengthening emotional bonds with children
- Creating strong social support networks
Each session is warm, inclusive, and engaging—because no parent should have to do it alone.
🧠 6. SMART K.I.D.S.
Keeping Identification Data Safe
This proactive safety initiative teaches parents and organizations how to create reliable child ID records through fingerprinting—before an emergency occurs. The training includes:
- Best practices for collecting and storing fingerprint data
- How to talk to children about safety without fear
- Tools and apps to manage information securely
ECHO does not store any fingerprint data—families retain full control. SMART K.I.D.S. is a simple yet powerful step toward peace of mind.
Ready to bring these trainings to your school, organization, or workplace?
Contact us at info@echo-ky.org or call (502) 634-6063 to schedule a session today.
We appreciate the support and dedication from several local Grantors & Community Partners. Thank you!
