Virtual club focuses on abuse prevention
Members help “alert adults” recognize and address dangers to kids.
By Julie Saetre
For more than five decades, Sharon Doty has worked as an advocate for abused and neglected kids, both professionally through her law practice and as a volunteer for a variety of organizations. When a friend encouraged her to explore Kiwanis membership, she attended meetings of a few virtual clubs, but nothing seemed to fit.
“We started talking about something that would call to me,” Doty says. “My life has been in service of creating a world where no child ever has to fear being sexually assaulted by someone who says they care about them. My life has been about educating adults how to recognize the potentially risky adults in our environment and how to interrupt behaviors so that kids are not at risk.”
In September 2024, Doty was part of a group that launched the virtual Keeping Them Safe Kiwanis Club. As its membership chair, she works with the club’s 14 other members to empower Kiwanians to expand their capacity for creating safe, protective environments for kids. The club’s presentations are based on training materials from the Keeping Them Safe organization Doty founded in 1996.
Identifying behaviors
Through in-person presentations, Zoom meetings, a PowerPoint presentation and more, club members teach other Kiwanians how to recognize behaviors in adults that indicate they could be a threat to children. Multiple studies involving conversations with convicted sexual predators have identified these behaviors, Doty says. And some of them can be easily overlooked. One example: letting a child have or do something their parents have prohibited — such as playing a certain video game or drinking a sugary soda — as long as the child keeps it a secret.
“I would bet you a million dollars, because I am a grandparent, that there’s not a grandparent, aunt or uncle out there who hasn’t done something mom and dad won’t allow the kids to do, because it’s not harmful in their world,” Doty says. “But you’ve taught the kids two things. One is that it’s OK not to follow mom and dad’s rules. And the second is that if a responsible, trusted adult tells them not to tell mom and dad, that’s OK too.
“So now, inadvertently, with no intention of causing harm, we have taught them things that create an environment where a predator can access them.”
The club also teaches Kiwanians non-threatening, non-accusatory methods of addressing such behaviors once they’ve learned to identify them. Something as simple as saying, “Wow, that child’s parents wouldn’t let me give them a soda last week. Let’s double-check with them to make sure it’s OK,” both interrupts the behavior and puts the individual on alert that other people are paying attention.
Alert adults
While those who hear the club’s presentations find the information helpful, some hesitate to pursue additional training or implementation. The reason, Doty says, is that they’re afraid that simply showing interest in the topic will appear inappropriate to others.
“We’re not accusing anybody,” Doty says. “These are the things that actually empower and enable us to fulfill this mission of creating safe environments. That kind of interest in being willing to go forward with the conversation is the beginning of something. We want to begin with Kiwanians having ownership of this as a way we can impact the world. I call it a community of alert adults.”
To reach even more people, the Keeping Them Safe club is creating a library of educational videos and a companion YouTube channel. The club has partnered with a nonprofit that will produce the videos so more individuals can be aware and involved.
“Our initial goal is to create 12 four-minute videos that educate adults and empower them to create safe environments,” Doty says.
Virtual clubs and single-focus clubs are two opportunities for Kiwanians to tailor a service experience to their personal interests and goals. Learn more about the various types of Kiwanis clubs.
