Abuse Prevention Initiative

1 in 5 people are sexually assaulted before age 18.
The average cost of a church abuse settlement is $268,000.
90% of child sexual abuse victims know their abuser.

The Dover Baptist Association is committed to safeguarding minors and vulnerable groups from abuse in our churches. We invite our churches to take advantage of these preferred vendors in order to better equip themselves to foster safe environments for everyone.

A QUICK RISK ASSESSMENT:

Are minors ever left alone with one another or an adult at your church?

Does your church have guardrails in place for digital spaces where minors may interact with church volunteers?

Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP)

Join the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention ("ECAP") as a member church under exclusive discounted Dover Baptist Association rate. ECAP Membership benefits include coaching and capacity building as individualized to your church, an initial assessment for your church's current Child Safety Program, abuse response coaching, connection to other ministries dedicated to abuse prevention, and further discounted offerings such as events, products, and services as provided or sponsored by ECAP. To apply for ECAP membership as a Dover Baptist Association member church:

Navigate to https://ecap.net/membership
Navigate to the "Church Membership" option and enter promo code "DBA" when signing up to activate the discounted rate.
Await confirmation email with new account login instructions.

Fall & Spring Cohort Registration

The Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention provides a church cohort program on a seasonal basis through the year. These 5-month, 1-night-a-month cohort classes provide church representatives individualized coaching through identifying improvements to current or needed Child Safety Programs in addition to customized solutions for challenges unique to each church. This cohort is recommended for a minimum of two church representatives (and no more than 4), who will be able to make important changes to their church's Child Safety Programs.

The Dover Baptist Association encourages our churches to participate in a cohort through their membership with ECAP at a discounted rate. To take advantage of these reduced rates as an ECAP member:

Register for a cohort (fall and spring offered) by signing in here: https://members.ecap.net/ap/Events/Register/2JFGVNxt3CNCz
Await email from ECAP to schedule a cohort with fellow Dover churches or simply participate in the existing cohort schedule from ECAP.

Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children Training

Darkness to Light "empowers adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse through awareness, education, and the reduction of stigma" (d2l.org).

Dover Baptist Association offers financial assistance and has training facilitators in their Stewards of Children® training program, one of the only adult-focused child sexual abuse prevention programs in the U.S.

Contact our office at 804-550-1980 or via email to inquire about setting up a Stewards of Children training for your church.

Attention Dover Church members: We are requesting your opinion on investment income HERE