Public School District CSA Prevention Strategies?

Brenda, I wanted to share this newly published article which is relevant to your topic.

Know the warning signs of educator sexual misconduct

http://acesconnection.com/profiles/blogs/know-the-warning-signs-of-educator-sexual-misconduct

Author info:

CHAROL SHAKESHAFT is a professor of educational leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.

Hi Brenda, Again so great to see you here! Coincidentally there was an article on CSA published today. Just wanted to make sure you didn't miss it! Thank you for your advocacy! Would love to hear how your testimony goes on the 21st. --best, chris

Not Even Discussed In Private Rooms: Childhood Sexual Abuse and Abuse Survivors

http://acesconnection.com/profiles/blogs/not-even-discussed-in-private-rooms-childhood-sexual-abuse-and

 

Hi, Brenda:

Since one or more other adverse experiences usually accompany child sex abuse, it might be worth addressing the entire issue of prevention of adverse childhood experiences and further traumatization of already traumatized students, as some schools in Washington State and Massachusetts are. See this story for more information and links: Washington, Massachusetts lead U.S. trauma-sensitive school movement. 

There are other resources in a more general discussion adjacent to this. 

Cheers, Jane

This article is terrific and hits the nail on the head! The problem in public school districts, especially with administrators, is that they are more interested in protecting their employees' reputations and not so much the kids they are responsible to protect. It's maddening and I have seen and experienced this first-hand!

Yes, that's the dysfunction in our culture of the legal system. It's so horrible. Sorry you've had to experience this. It's not right.

Jane, Thanks for your insight! I am approaching this testimony from the perspective of all the thoughts/feelings/fears educators are facing in response to Sandy Hook's tragedy. Now we are all about proactively stopping another tragedy of that magnitude. We should be equally and thoughtfully be integrating our TOTAL response to all violence at once -- and not excusing any hidden violence issue, because of the trauma impact of them all on our children & society.

Again the resources are wonderful! Thanks so much for posting this and pointing me to it! I wonder though, how experts feel about Finkelhor's comment about CSA on the decline!? He said that at the PSU CSA Conference back in October. Many people working in the field commented in disagreement. I really wonder how you can fully say that if this issue is so hidden and captured in big secrets? Also, with the economy in decline, more people experiencing other traumas, wouldn't that contribute to an upswing? I am just wondering aloud here. But thanks.

I think a lot of people didn't believe that Finkelhor was able to obtain accurate information. He looks only at reported, verified cases from criminal justice. Unfortunately, that doesn't account for the cases that people do not report, as well as the dire straits affecting almost every child welfare agency budget in the U.S., which means that not all reports are checked.

Dr. Frank Putnam at Mayerson Center for Safe and Healthy Children at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is doing some research into this, and expects to have the results published in the Fall. 

-- J. 

Brenda-

I agree with some of the previous points, particularly Jane's response. CSA is particularly vulnerable to incomplete data given the lack of disclosure. Research clearly demonstrates a lack of congruence between the low number of official CSA reports, and the high rates of reports retrospectively (often as adults).

Some data are available on teacher attitudes and beliefs about CSA which impacts their response to reports or warning signs. In one study, over half the teachers denied ever having a child in their school that was sexually abused, and many anticipated hesitating to report. Further, two-thirds of teachers fear being sued if a child disclosed to them, despite laws that protect educators that report even a suspicion of maltreatment. In this regard, some prevention could simply offer awareness and responsiveness training.

As for prevention programs, we cover this a bit in our book "Supporting and Educating Traumatized Students: A Guide for School Based Professionals". Pages 192-193 actually cover school-based prevention programs for CSA. I'd also check out these resources:

Wurtele, S. K. (2009). Preventing sexual abuse of children in the twenty-first century: Preparing for challenges and opportunities. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse

Finkelhor, D. (2009). The prevention of childhood sexual abuse. The Future of Children.

Kenny, M. C., Capri, V., Thakkar-Kolar, R. R., Ryan, E. E., & Runyon, M. K. (2008). Child sexual abuse: From prevention to self-protection. Child Abuse Review

Topping, K. J., & Barron, I. G. (2009). School-based child sexual abuse prevention programs: A review of effectiveness. Review of Educational Research.

Zwi et al. (2007). School-based education programmes for the prevention of child sexual abuse. Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews.

Brenda, FYI:

As attitudes change, more report sexual abuse at schools

http://acesconnection.com/profiles/blogs/as-attitudes-change-more-report-sexual-abuse-at-schools

Eric, Thank you so much for sharing your resources and Information. The better the understanding I have about the barriers schools encounter to prevention, the better I am able to address those concerns (for instance, teachers need to understand they are more at risk for being sued if they DO NOT report, than if they are mistaken). There's SO much education to be done here. I just hope our school's Board of Education sees what a statement they would make to our community when they take a leadership approach to the public health issue of violence prevention.

To follow-up on the Feb. 21st testimony I gave to our school district's Board of Education, I have to say it was a mixed bag. My testimony was intentionally moved to last on the agenda, because our cluster representatives were afraid I would make the audience "uncomfortable!". I was also told to keep my testimony shorter "than everyone else's".

Looking into the faces of the BoE members, they listened, but seemed clueless as to what I was saying had to do with them (coincidentally, a fifth grade teacher had been arrested that very day for CSA of two 11 yr old girls). Parents gave me their full attention, and applauded afterwards. A few came up, offering me support.

I called the arm of the police department who deals with these crimes to ask for their guidance. They told me our schools are unwilling to act on police suggestions for changes to make kids safer. They also suggested I try to speak with the Superintendent of our school district. I am drafting a letter now.

Other suggestions? This is truly hidden trauma in our county: the police department told me we have no grassroots advocacy groups here because they have been run out of county. They also said many of the Maryland legislators are defense attorneys and are not interested in writing preventive laws! OUCH!!!

I live here. My children go to school here. I am passionate to push this issue forward.

Hi Brenda, I was hoping you would update us on how your testimony went. Thank you! I'm glad to hear you got support from the parents. But sorry to hear the BoE looked clueless and that your local schools won't even take advice from the police dept. I wish I could say that responses like that weren't common for ACE advocates.

Just so you know, the federal government (e.g., SAMHSA and the CDC) is encouraging pertinent social programs to become trauma-informed. Research from Harvard and new policy from the AAP, both supported by The White House, can help bolster your argument for change when you communicate with your school superintendent. You might want to engage your local government officials as well (mayor, supervisors,...). If you can point to any other local agencies that have instituted trauma-informed care that could be helpful too. I can quickly look up what's happening in your county if you let me know the name of your county either on this discussion thread or via email.

Thanks again for your passion and tenacious spirit as an ACE advocate!

Keep us posted and let me know if I can be of any additional assistance.

Brenda, Here's a story I thought you'd want to know about:

Advocate Erin Merryn brings campaign for education against child sex abuse to
Long Beach

http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_22699912/advocate-erin-merryn-...

For more information on how to deal with and prevent child sexual abuse, go to www.shatteringthesilence.org, on Twitter @PAVEinfo.

 

My pleasure, Brenda! I'm happy if I can help!

This is what I found in your area. These resources may lead you to new contacts/info or give you information to bolster your argument when talking to locals about the prevalence of ACEs/trauma.

Byrne Justice Assistance Grants – Oct. 2012:

Primary Care Coalition of Montgomery County- Minimizing Child Abuse Victims' Interview Trauma – Grant of $53,289.00 

Family & Children's Services of Central MD  --  Domestic Violence Trauma-informed Counseling Services (DVTCS),  Baltimore City -- Grant of $22,603.00

http://www.goccp.maryland.gov/press/BJAG%202012%20table.doc

 

Montgomery County Department of Correction & Rehabilitation

“Women’s Unit – In January 2007, PRRS opened Unit I to female offenders only and created a Women’s Weekly Group to address a number of topics that provide more gender-specific and trauma-informed services to female offenders.”

http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/doctmpl.asp?url=/content/docr/PR...

 

Diana Bernhardt, Wilkins Avenue Women’s Assessent Center (2011) – Homelessness services

“The shelter is trying to become “trauma informed”.

http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/hhstmpl.asp?url=/content/hhs/Boa...

 

Montgomery County's Veteran/PTSD resources page

http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/hhstmpl.asp?url=/content/hhs/ads...

 

Child Welfare Information Gateway:

Maryland Department of Social Services (Wicomico County DSS)

Contact info: https://www.childwelfare.gov/nfcad/index.cfm?event=showDetail&n...

 

This "Maryland Association of Local Management Boards FY 2011 Annual Report" lists a “Trauma Informed Community Initiative” in Wicomico County, MD

http://www.talbotcountymd.gov/uploads/File/TFN/legislative%20report...

 

Governor’s Office for Children - Local Management Board Contact Links:

Wicomico County, Diana Reinoso, Point of Contact  dreinoso@wicomicocounty.org

Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families, Inc., Point of Contact - Carol Walsh, Executive Director: Carol.walsh@collaborationcouncil.org  --  www.collaborationcouncil.org 

From the 2011 Annual Report: "The Congress’s spring symposium on Supporting Infants’ & Toddlers’ Mental Health in Response to Trauma was attended by 169 child care providers, social workers, mental health providers, and parents. The symposium was highly evaluated with attendees welcoming the chance to meet across agencies and disciplines."

Be sure to check the second Montgomery County contact on the webpage.

 

National Center for Trauma-Informed Care

66 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 302
Alexandria, VA 22314
E-mail: nctic@nasmhpd.org 1-866-254-4819 (Toll Free)

Offer consultation and technical assistance, and education and outreach. Website features hot topics, news and information, an event calendar, and resources including trauma-informed models for trauma-specific treatments and interventions and target groups, topic papers and resaerch, links, and other materials are provided to help educate and foster a deeper understanding of the impact of trauma.

http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/hhstmpl.asp?url=/content/hhs/ads...

 

PAVE Take Action – Community (three people minimum)

http://pavingtheway.net/wordpress/take-action-community/

 

ACEsConnection members in Maryland

http://acesconnection.com/profiles/members/?q=maryland

Hope some of this is helpful. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Good question, Jane. Hopefully some people met at the Collaboration Council's "symposium on Supporting Infants’ & Toddlers’ Mental Health in Response to Trauma."

This is an incredible list, Chris. I wonder if all these people know about each other!

Hi Chris! Thank you so much for being such a huge support and source of great information. You have no idea how much this helps feed my passionate pursuit of CSA prevention, starting in my own children's schools. I live in Montgomery County, Maryland. Sad to say as Democratic as the county is, it has a LONG LONG way to go on this issue. But I am determined, and I know in my heart I am right here. Brenda Yuen

Brenda, thank you for making these points! I always appreciate the details and perspective you bring to this topic!