Image by Flickr user cathyjonelson

Eight Lowcountry organizations have been honored with the Partner in Prevention certification, which recognizes groups that work towards preventing child sexual abuse.

The certification was developed by the Charleston-based nonprofit organization Darkness to Light. President and CEO of Darkness to Light Anne Lee hopes that the designation will become a necessity for youth-serving groups.

In order to achieve Partner in Prevention status, organizations must meet specific criteria including performing background checks, training staff and volunteers in an abuse prevention program, and creating a child sexual abuse prevention policy. So far, local groups achieving these goals are: Berkeley County schools, Charleston Collegiate, Charleston County Public Library, Hope Haven, John Wesley United Methodist Church, the Lowcountry Pregnancy Center, St. Matthews Lutheran Church, and We Are Family.

Ten more organizations have already committed to working towards becoming a Partner in Preventing. The goal is to have 35 groups signed on by the end of the year.

Find out more about what's being done to encourage the Partner in Prevention certification over at The Post and Courier's report here.