Tonight in our Making a Difference series we take a look at a local women and her fight against child abuse.
As a licensed social worker, Brandi Warnkey of Idaho Falls, has learned about a growing problem in the area.
Warnkey says child abuse is an issue that cant be overlooked and she is trying to teach certain steps to put it to a stop.
In the last five years Brandi Warnkey has worked mainly in substance abuse counseling but soon learned about a problem behind the drugs.
Warnkey: "Ninety-nine percent of the cliental that I work with have been sexually victimized in the past."
Warnkey was then introduced to a national program that targeted sexual abuse.
Warnkey: "I got tired of treating and wanted to prevent and this was the only program that I have stumbled across that is a prevention program."
The Darkness to Light, Stewards of Children program teaches seven steps to protect kids from sexual abuse.
Warnkey: "One in four girls are being molested, one in six boys are being molested, 90 percent of the children that are being molested is taking place with in the family or by somebody they know."
Warnkey's goal is to educate as many people as she can from all backgrounds about these statistics and what they can do if they know about any abuse going on.
Warnkey's: "There are a lot of people out there that don't realize how important this is and how prevalent it is and yet it is, it is a silent epidemic. I strongly believe that we can resolve sexual abuse, it is something that we can resolve; because as adults if we take the responsibility to protect our kids and take the proper steps, sexual abuse can be resolved."
Brandi has already taught three full trainings and is a certified facilitator herself. She says it has not been easy but she is excited to hopefully spread the message.
Warnkey: "If I save one child in the process of doing this, then that's awesome and I have done my job."
To find out more about the darkness to light program click here. To contact Brandi you can call 208-681-1945 or e-mail her at mbwarnke@msn.com.
Comments for this post
