COEUR d'ALENE - The facts of child sexual abuse can be overwhelming. Estimates indicate that one in 10 children younger than 18 is sexually abused before they turn 18. Of those children, 90 percent are victimized by someone they know.

But groups are fighting to reduce those statistics.

At the St. Vincent de Paul Help Center on Thursday, 12 residents - many of them employees of the organization - attended a workshop titled "Stewards of Children." The workshop was put on by Darkness to Light, a national nonprofit that focuses on creating a world free of child sexual abuse.

"It's not a topic that we like to talk about," Taryn Molitor, the workshop facilitator, said during her introduction. "In fact, I think we all wish that we didn't have to talk about it."

However, according to Molitor, by "shining a light" on the issue, attendees could be better equipped to prevent, identify and report matters of child sexual abuse within the community.

"You'll be able to help somebody through it," Molitor said. "But that involves taking the blinders off when it comes to this issue. It's not fun, but it can become something that is empowering and helpful."

The workshop centered around a five-step technique that can be used to protect children in the community. Molitor played a video that illustrated each of the five points through the testimony of victims as well as experts in various fields that encounter victims of child sexual abuse.

1.) Learn the Facts

In tackling the issue of child sexual abuse, the first step is knowledge that begins with identifying what child sexual abuse is. The "Stewards of Children" video defined child sexual abuse as "any sexual act between an adult and a minor, or between two minors, when one exerts power of the other."

"Child sexual abuse also includes non-contact acts such as exhibitionism, exposure to pornography, voyeurism, and communicating in a sexual manner by phone or the Internet," the video stated.

2.) Minimize the Opportunity

Child predators will often "groom" their victims by becoming friendly with the potential victims and their families.

By eliminating or reducing situations of one-on-one interaction between an adult and child, according to the video, the risk of child sexual abuse decreases.

Molitor told workshop participants that it is "all of our jobs" to scan the area around us for any potential places where a predator can isolate a victim.

"Even if you start selfishly with just your own kiddos, it will trickle down," Molitor said. "Don't undervalue the potential of what just you can do."

3.) Talk About It

Molitor told attendees to go beyond teaching children about "stranger danger," especially considering the fact that most cases involve someone familiar and trusted by the child.

The video reinforced this point, encouraging parents to engage in specific communication with their children on what is appropriate and what isn't - even when it comes to family and friends.

4.) Recognize the Signs

There are many signs a child is being sexually abused and, according to the "Stewards of Children" video, not all of them are easily identifiable. Sometimes a child will demonstrate what is called "too perfect" behavior in an effort to try to dull trauma from the abuse.

5.) React Responsibly

The workshop detailed three different reasons a person should react to sexual abuse and stated that we all have a moral obligation to stand up for children.

Whether the abuse is disclosed, discovered, or even suspected, Molitor encouraged participants to call child protective services and share their concerns.

When the two-hour workshop concluded, Molitor presented each participant with a certificate of completion and one final thought.

"Now that you know this stuff, the challenge is to act on it," Molitor said. "If you leave yourself open to using this information, you will get the opportunities."

For more information on this program, contact ICARE at (208) 676-1515.