Region 3 includes Cherokee, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Rockdale counties. From January 2015 through January 2016, the regional initiative has trained 3,423 people, now totaling 25,928 adults who’ve been trained in Atlanta metro area. This number represents 18% of the region’s tipping point goal: 141,943. Fulton County, with the largest population, remains the leader in the efforts, having trained 40% of its tipping point. With more than 190 active and engaged Stewards of Children facilitators training throughout the region, region 3 has trainings going on in all 7 counties on a regular basis.
Gwinnett boasts an active community-based effort through the Gwinnett Coalition for Health & Human Services, Child Sexual Assault Prevention Committee which meets monthly to support training efforts. The City of Sandy Springs recently provided a Safety grant to train 300 adults within the city limit and to add a Spanish-speaking facilitator. All of the bus drivers and monitors for the Atlanta Public Schools were trained in January during our “back to school” initiative. Douglas County recently trained 250 of their school employees through a DFCS grant. New facilitators have joined our ranks in Rockdale and Cherokee counties. In Cobb County the SafePath Child Advocacy Center and Zion Baptist Church continue to lead the county training efforts. DeKalb is working with the D.A.T.E. Watch Unit (DeKalb Anti-Trafficking and Exploitation) to identify partners to help provide additional training in the schools, faith communities, and youth-serving organizations. Twenty organizations in Region 3 have attained Partners in Prevention status, including the Atlanta Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, and more will likely join once they complete the application process.
