April 16, 2018

The statistics about child sexual abuse are alarming.

In the United States alone, one in 10 children will be sexually abused before the age of 18, making this one of the most prevalent health problems children face, with the most serious array of consequences. Child sexual abuse survivors are three to four times more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, and twice as likely to drop out of school, have a teenage pregnancy, and suffer from serious and long-term mental health issues such as PTSD, anxiety and depression, among other physical and emotional problems.

In Chester County, we have encountered record numbers of children who have come forward to report abuse.

As a former child abuse prosecutor at the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, I have seen beyond mere numbers. I can attest firsthand to the complete devastation sexual abuse can have on a child and his or her family. We’ve seen children engage in self-mutilation, suicide attempts and drug overdoses to cope with their pain. Some run away from home. Others feel responsible for the abuse.

Often, we in the Child Abuse Unit saw children who were terrified to report the abuse out of fear of retaliation or guilt over breaking up a family. A lot of children expressed great love for their abuser and did not want him or her to get into trouble. Many are instructed to keep the abuse a secret so they may never tell.

That is understandable. In more than 90 percent of such incidents, children are abused by someone they know. Abusers are extremely adept at winning a child’s, and a family’s, affection. They also come from all socioeconomic levels, races, ages, genders and professions. Our unit helped convict lawyers, police officers, politicians, clergymen, coaches, teachers, mothers, fathers, and others who preyed upon our most vulnerable population — sometimes for years — and always acting with impunity. This is an epidemic where no group is immune.

Many years ago, I prosecuted a case involving a local music teacher who sexually assaulted multiple 6-year-olds, boys and girls, during their individual lessons while their parents sat outside of the room, not more than five feet away. No one suspected it.

Like most cases, the children did not come forward immediately, but once one brave little girl told her mother, the other five children reported the abuse. The parents and community were rightfully outraged. The owner of the music studio was also heartbroken; he had no idea what was happening behind closed doors. The owner has since installed video surveillance cameras in each of the music rooms and changed out the solid doors with new doors with windows to ensure total transparency.

Approximately 80 percent of these tragedies happen in isolated, one-on-one situations. But we can eliminate or reduce that dramatically by implementing new ways to safeguard our children. Youth organizations should have a clear code of conduct for staff and volunteers that is shared with parents and children. Background checks, including speaking directly to references, are imperative. Teachers, coaches and clergy should have open door meetings with children.

One of the most frustrating aspects of child abuse work occurs when children are disbelieved, marginalized and called liars. Some parents went so far as to ridicule, denounce or even remove their own child from their home, unwilling to face reality. Since the majority of cases have little evidence to corroborate a child’s allegation, it’s much easier and much more convenient, to disregard the child.

Most of these cases happen in private with no eyewitnesses and there is little or no physical evidence to substantiate the child’s account. Because of that, the child’s age, and influenced by family members, these cases can be incredibly difficult to prosecute.

As adults, we are all responsible for ensuring the safety of our children. We can do our best to arm children with child sexual abuse prevention training, but ultimately this endeavor lies directly with us. We can learn to become more vigilant at prevention and speak to our children honestly and openly about our bodies, sex and boundaries. Many of us have shied away from forthright conversations with our own children because it makes us uncomfortable.

The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, Inc. (CVC) is currently part of the first comprehensive initiative to eradicate child sexual abuse.  In collaboration with the District Attorney’s Office, the Chester County Children’s Advocacy Center, the county’s Department of Children, Youth & Family (CYF), and all county public schools, we are embarking on rectifying the lack of vital child sexual abuse prevention training in our county through the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative.

Over the next three years we will implement prevention and education programming to three different populations: (1) all second-graders in public schools, (2) at-risk parents working with CYF, and (3) adults in the county.

The program, open to all adults, is called “Stewards of Children.” This two hour in-person or online workshop teaches participants how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. It includes compelling stories from child sexual abuse survivors and strategies from experts about how we can prevent child sexual abuse from happening in the first place.

One of our goals is to present “Stewards of Children” to 20,000 adults in the county over the next several years. That’s roughly 5 percent of our population, and when the proverbial “tipping point” happens-that is when an issue gains momentum, and a relatively small amount of people can effect change on a societal level, according to author Malcolm Gladwell.  This is how we can provide the foundation for widespread social change.

Please consider becoming part of this critical “tipping point.” We are offering free workshops to any adult in the county, on April 25, from 5 p.m. to7 p.m. in West Goshen, May 3, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Pottstown, and June 2, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Coatesville. The sessions designed for parents, mandated reporters, youth-serving organizations and any individual concerned about the safety of children. We have trained law enforcement, probation officers, therapists, social workers, and parents, but our work has just begun. Help us reach our goal.

Contact Deborah Ryan, Esq. at debr@cvcofcc.orgor 610-692-1926 x220 to learn more or to schedule a workshop. Visit www.cvcofcc.orgfor more details.  CVC is a nonprofit agency providing free, immediate, and confidential crisis response and compassionate support to children and adults impacted by crime and violence. We provide assistance through counseling, advocacy, resources, and education. CVC fosters community awareness and understanding through its comprehensive outreach and prevention programs.

Deborah Ryan,
Former Chester County prosecutor