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January 22, 2005

Child abuse: how to prevent it

Sexual predators may come disguised as neighbors, friends or even relatives, and parents should discuss the "what-ifs" with their children.

"There are many 'good touch, bad touch situations out there,' said Iron County District Attorney Marty Lipske. "You should discuss with family members on a regular basis if someone is having bad contact with them, because our best source of finding these offenders would be through their discussions."

Lipske advises parents to have a family photo album available during the discussions. "Perhaps of friends and family. Show these pictures to your children."

Families need to talk about possible sexual assaults. "That is what families need to talk about...if it happens to them," he said.

"The quicker we professionally deal with the issue, the better chance we have to stop the cycle."

According to statistics, one in four girls and one in about six boys will be victims of sexual assault during their childhoods.

About 92 percent of those sexually assaulted know the offender, he added.

Lipske said a large number of the sexually assaulted later become predators.

Parents should also be concerned about use of computers by their children.

"Who's watching you on the Internet? Chatrooms may be a dangerous place to go," Lipske said. "When your child is chatting with someone on the Internet, do you know who's on the other end?" Lipske asked.

He said his department is reviewing "more and more computer issues."

Sexual assaults not only have a detrimental effect on victims, but also weigh heavy on families, friends and others who come into contact with the victims.

"For a child, coping begins with the telling -- the report of the abuse to a trusted adult," said Carolyn Kolson-Janov, director of the Iron County Human Services Department.

The response to the report is critical, she said. "If the child is believed, and is not made to feel guilt or shame, healing may begin."

The support of family members and counseling with a trained professional are also extremely important, she said. The level of the child's involvement in the criminal court process should correspond with his or her age and level of maturity, Kolson-Janov noted.

To help a child victim cope with his or her trauma, it is important to accurately understand the impact child sexual abuse has on a molested child, Kolson-Janov said.

"Guilt and shame eat away at self-esteem. Keeping the secret about the abuse is part of the trauma and contributes to lowered self-esteem, and hence, depression," she noted.

"Other mood disturbances are also prevalent in child victims -- panic attacks, anxiety disorders and personality disorders," she said, noting child victims are also much more likely to suffer from drug and alcohol addictions, and are at significant risk of suicide.

It is unlikely a young victim will survive sexual abuse unscathed, Kolson-Janov said, adding, "It is vital that resources be dedicated to the prevention of child sexual abuse.

"Current child sexual abuse prevention strategies require children to be in charge of their own protection. They are taught about 'good-touch, bad-touch,' told to say 'no' to those who try to harm them, are asked to relay this information to trusted adults, and are instructed to keep telling until they are believed," Kolson-Janov said.

Rather than relying on children to be the principal line of defense, "It is time for adults to take over the job of protecting children by no longer giving molesters access to the children," she said.

To protect children, "Parents must learn to understand molesters and recognize their methods," Kolson-Janov said.

"Parents and teachers need to learn how to recognize the processes utilized by molesters to lull adults into compliance, and groom their potential victims."

Posted by Nealus at January 22, 2005 01:59 PM

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