LaGRANGE — The Troup County Sheriff’s Office has achieved Partner in Prevention status, a designation awarded by the nonprofit Darkness to Light organization.

Darkness to Light trains staff at various organizations to understand the issue of child sexual abuse, identify unsafe situations and practices, and react responsibly in the best interest of the children they serve. One in 10 children will be sexually abused before the age of 18, according to the group.

The Troup County Sheriff’s Office has earned the Partner in Prevention designation by providing Stewards of Children training to over 90 percent of its management, staff and volunteers. This evidence-informed program is scientifically proven to help participants prevent and respond to child sexual abuse, according to sheriff’s officials.

Partner in Prevention was created as a national standard to help parents and caregivers recognize organizations that take child protection seriously by implementing policy and training staff to prevent child sexual abuse.

“The protection of our children is of the utmost importance, and I am very proud that the men and women of our agency have completed this training to be able to provide the needed help for those that cannot defend themselves and that we as an agency have achieved this status,” said Sheriff James Woodruff in a written statement.

Darkness to Light is an international organization that leads the movement to end child sexual abuse by educating and empowering adults in education, youth serving organizations and communities to protect children. Darkness to Light has affiliates in all 50 states and 16 international locations.

Anyone seeking to learn more about child sexual abuse prevention training or to enroll their organization in Darkness to Light’s Partner in Prevention program should visit www.D2L.org/Partner.