Child Abuse Prevention & Awareness Month in April

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas--Child sexual abuse isn’t something that happens “somewhere else” – it happens right in your own county. In fact, there were over 919 new cases of and/or severe child physical abuse reported to Children’s Safe Harbor in 2013 alone. This statistic reflects a 3% increase over last year’s forensic interviews. National research supports that very few reported incidents are false – less than five percent.

In recognition of April as National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month, Victoria J. Constance, MSPH, PhD, Executive Director of Children’s Safe Harbor, shares these essential tips for recognizing warning signs of possible child abuse:

Physical:


Unexpected bruises

Burns or fractures

Messy, neglected appearance

Loss of appetite; malnourishment

Disturbed sleep

Sexually transmitted diseases or frequent urinary tract infections

Behavioral:


Sudden behavior changes

Unexplained anger and rebellion

Withdrawal, clinging, anxiety and depression

Fear of a certain person or place

Discomfort with physical contact

Sexually acting out behaviors

Suicidal tendencies

Be aware that for some children there are NO signs whatsoever.

Nancy Hebert, Chief Prosecutor for the Crimes Against Children’s Division, Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office shared her experiences: “I have just returned from watching a forensic interview of a five year old. The child revealed the nature of the abuse, but, when asked about details, the child simply said, ‘I don’t want to tell you, I’m too shy’ and the child crawled under a chair. The Children’s Safe Harbor interviewer got down on the floor and colored with the child who came out from under the chair and started to talk with her. However, the moment the talking shifted back toward the abuse, the child went back under the chair.

“Imagine you were asked to tell the details of a sexual encounter. How embarrassed would you be to discuss the intimate details? What if the perpetrator was a family member whom you love and trust? What if you didn’t want the loved one to get in trouble, but you wanted the abuse to stop? What if everyone thinks it’s your fault and you will get in trouble? How willing would you be to describe the details of what happened, what you saw, the sensations of smell and taste, or how it felt? What if you were only a child?

“Children’s Safe Harbor provides a safe and child friendly atmosphere for children to disclose abuse. Some children are able to disclose more than others. Some hide under a chair. Every day, Children’s Safe Harbor makes a difference in these children’s lives by lessening the number of times a child will have to talk about the abuse. However, a child will still have to testify in court.

“The Constitution requires that the accused be allowed to confront their accuser. In child sexual abuse cases, this means the child. So, the day will come when a child will approach a witness stand, sit on a phone book (so we can see the child), and be sworn in by a judge. Because so much of the abuse is by family members, the child’s loved ones will be split in the courtroom; some supporting the child and others supporting the perpetrator. The child will then be asked to describe all of the intimate sexual details to strangers, in a grown-up world, with the perpetrator sitting only a few feet away.

“As you can imagine, children have various reactions. Some children refuse to look at the perpetrator. For others, the only way they can talk about the abuse is to almost disassociate from what they are saying and talk in a rather matter of fact manner. Some children put their head down and start crying. I have had children refuse to look at the perpetrator when asked to identify them to the court. I have had others wave and smile at the perpetrator as they walk to the stand. Yet, all of these children have one thing in common; they have been forced in a complex situation they didn’t ask for and they don’t understand.

“Thankfully, children are resilient. Safe Harbor is here to provide counseling and therapy to help these children learn to cope with the anxiety that has replaced their innocence. Countless times I have seen courage and strength flow from these children as they share with others, for hopefully the last time, what the perpetrator did to them. For those of us who work with these children, we are able to ‘deal with this’ because we are inspired daily by these children’s bravery and their resilience to just be children.”

Dr. Constance urges anyone who suspects child abuse to please report it immediately to your local law enforcement agency by calling 911 or call the statewide hotline for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services at 1-800-252-5400.

Children’s Safe Harbor’s primary goal is to reduce the trauma for abused children ages 2 to 17 and their non-offending caregivers and siblings members as they move through the criminal justice system. Children's Safe Harbor’s advocacy center program helps child abuse victims have a better chance for safety and healing than children who have had no intervention. By creating a safe and child-friendly place to interview, counsel and heal child abuse victims, Children's Safe Harbor is positively impacting the community social services as a whole.

On Saturday, April 12, Children’s Safe Harbor will host a Casino Night dinner and fundraiser from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center, with live music by The Beagles and an exciting silent auction. For more information, call (936) 756-4644, extension 235.

To make a donation or to volunteer see their website below or call (936) 756-4644, extension 235. Financial donations can be mailed to their main office at 1519 Oddfellow, Conroe, Texas, 77301.