FOCUS
April was Child Abuse Prevention Month, and bringing the issue to the forefront can be difficult and awkward, especially when the topic is sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
Most people don't like to discuss such disturbing topics, but failure to talk about the issue does not make the reality go away - in fact, refusing to acknowledge that sexual abuse of children occurs could put more victims in harm's way.
Colorful pinwheels were spinning in the breeze on the lawn of Barrow Regional Medical Center after Saturday's Pinwheels for Prevention, part of the Child Abuse Prevention Month efforts in Barrow County.
Those pinwheels - a reminder of careful days of childhood - stood for the 1,514 reports of child abuse and neglect filed in Barrow County. Of those reports, 1,207 were assessed and 199 cases were determined to be substantiated. In those cases, children had been victimized - either through neglect or abuse, including some sexual abuse.
Also as a part of the observance, 87 balloons were released to represent the number of new children taken into state custody because of child abuse and neglect.
The child protective services system has changed with a number of reports being diverted so the comparison of numbers of past cases is not a true depiction of an improving situation related to children's health.
People who sexually abuse children count on our silence to give them access to sexually abuse children.
We can all help prevent or stop the sexual abuse of children by learning simple action steps.
If you know that a child has been sexually abused, you need to report it. You can call your local police department or your local child protective services office. You can also bring the child directly to a therapist or a doctor, both of whom are required to report the abuse.
If you do not know where to go or you are unsure of what you are seeing, you can call PCA Georgia's confidential, toll-free HELPLINE at 1-800-CHILDREN (244-5373) for information and support.
The HELPLINE is staffed by professionals who know about the issue. You can call to simply talk about your situation. The HELPLINE staff is trained to assist with questions such as:
What are the indicators of sexual abuse?
What actions can I take to keep kids safe?
What kinds of help and treatment are available?
Who can I call for more information and help?
How do I report sexual abuse when I know it has occurred?
Worth defending
Kids are terrific -- happy, innocent, and free. They can remind us of what is best about ourselves.
When they are sexually abused, that happiness is dimmed, sometimes for life. With your help, more kids will get to grow up safe and full of light and life.
People who sexually abuse children are likely to be people we know, and could even be people we care about. It would be easy to figure out who sexually abuses children if they were like the ones we see on TV - those strangers in trench coats hanging around the edges of playgrounds or the "monsters" who kill and mutilate children. But they're hardly ever like that.
In 90 percent of child sexual abuse cases, the child knows and trusts the person who abuses them. Most people who sexually abuse children -- the ones we know about and the ones we don't.
Family action plan
Practice talking with other adults about difficult topics, say the words out loud so that you become more comfortable using the words, asking questions and confronting behaviors.
Practice talking with both the adults and children in your life about their difficult issues to get should clearly tell them the family rules.
Speak up when you see any inappropriate behaviors. Interrupt behaviors and talk with the adult in the situation about what is making you uncomfortable. They may need help to stop these behaviors.
Report anything you know or suspect is sexual abuse. Without help, the abuse will not stop. them in the habit of talking with you. Show them that you will listen to anything they have to say, even if they talk about something embarrassing or something they've done wrong.
Originally published Sunday, May 4, 2008
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