Most people think of sexual assault as it pertains to adults, but according to the U.S. Department of Justice, children are victimized at a much higher rate.
Nearly 70 percent of all reported sexual assaults occur to children aged 17 and under, and approximately one in 10 children – one in seven girls and one in 25 boys – will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the prevalence of childhood sexual abuse, the San Marcos Public Library is hosting a presentation by the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Central Texas on Monday, April 22 from 5 to 6 p.m. to teach adults proactive steps to recognize and protect children from sexual abuse.
CASA of Central Texas advocates for abused and neglected children in the court system by recruiting, training and supporting community volunteers in Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe and Hays counties. CASA volunteers often serve as the “eyes and ears” for the judges in child welfare cases, researching each child’s situation and making objective recommendations to help them reclaim their childhoods from abuse and neglect.
“In our organization, we usually come into play after the abuse and neglect has already happened,” CASA of Central Texas Recruitment and Training Director Layla Coleman said. “So we wanted to go ahead and come to the forefront and work on prevention.”
Using an evidence-informed approach, the presentation will go over the five steps to prevent and recognize child sexual abuse. The steps include: Learning the facts, minimizing opportunity, talking about it, recognizing signs and reacting responsibly.
Coleman said a lot of people hold beliefs about child sexual abuse that just aren’t supported by the facts. For instance, many still think of child sexual abuse as a “stranger danger” issue, but in child sexual abuse cases, more than 90 percent of victims know and trust their perpetrator, according to a report from the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.
She also said that sometimes adults place undue burdens on child victims, but adults are responsible for the safety of children and that adults should be taking proactive steps to protect children from sexual abuse.
“Sometimes concern comes out about why victims don’t make an outcry or if there is a delayed outcry, but we need to not blame the victim, especially if they are children,” Coleman said. “It’s not their responsibility; it’s the adult’s responsibility to protect them, to talk about it with them and to believe them and support them in any way they can if they do come forward.”
Research estimates that only approximately 38 percent of child victims disclose the fact that they have been sexually abused and of those, Child Protective Service agencies investigate about 55 percent of the child sexual abuse incidents reported to them. The rest are “screened out” for lack of adequate information or for other reasons. Of those reports investigated, only a portion meets the criteria for “substantiated,” according to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families 2012 report.
Coleman says any organization or person who regularly comes in contact with or provides services to children could benefit from the presentation. Registration is required for this free presentation. Register in person at the library or by phone at 512-393-8200.
