Delaware Tech students to receive child-protection training
Hundreds of Delaware Technical Community College students preparing for careers in education, healthcare and law enforcement will soon receive specialized training to help protect children from abuse.
Funding the program is a $25,000 BluePrints for the Community awarded to the Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware.
The grant will support the implementation of the Beau Biden Foundation’s Shield of Protection program across Delaware Tech campuses statewide.
The program equips students with the skills to recognize and report signs of child abuse and identify grooming behaviors, which are critical competencies they will bring into professions that directly serve children and families.
This comprehensive child protection initiative includes a review of organizational policies and procedures, customized recommendations based on best practices and mandatory training for youth-serving staff.
“As college students enter their careers, it is critical that they possess all the significant information and education necessary to assure the safety of children,” said Patricia Dailey Lewis, CEO, Beau Biden Foundation. “We are grateful to Highmark for their generous commitment to child protection and to Dr. Mark Brainard, president of Del Tech, for his unwavering support and tireless devotion to ensure the students at Del Tech receive the best education available.”
The partnership is part of the foundation’s broader effort to build community-wide systems of prevention. By training students early in their professional development, the foundation strengthens child safety infrastructure across sectors.
“We are grateful to the Beau Biden Foundation and Highmark for equipping our Delaware Tech students with the skills and knowledge they will need to help protect the children in their care once they begin their careers in education, healthcare, and law enforcement,” said Brainard. “The Shield of Protection program continues Beau Biden’s commitment to the health and safety of abused children who cannot speak for themselves, and we are honored to be chosen to help carry on his legacy to defend our youngest Delawareans.”
Training at Delaware Tech will begin this fall.
