CENTERS' PIECE: Sexual Abuse: Learning from Recent Scandals
Have you ever had a bad feeling about someone? Made you feel “icky” or made the hair on the back of your neck stand up? I teach kids to pay attention to that feeling because it could be the only chance they have to get away safely.
Sexual abuse has been in the news a lot lately (Penn State). Our nation is having a hard time understanding how the sexual abuse of children could go on so long without anyone reporting it to the proper authorities. Apparently the laws in Pennsylvania are not the same as our laws in Texas.
In Texas, any person suspecting child abuse or neglect is mandated to report it. If a teacher suspects abuse or neglect of a child, then the teacher is to report it. Schools might insist that teachers notify their superiors, but the person who saw or suspected the abuse is the person to make the call. Not only professionals such as teachers, counselors, and doctors must make a report of abuse; all adults are mandated to make the report. Even if you think someone else is going to report it, you need to make a report as well. This simple law would have made each person, who suspected or knew of the abuse Jerry Sandusky is accused of perpetrating on children, responsible to make a report.
Once I was at a retreat with young teenagers, and I noticed one leader was paying a lot of attention to a shy and quiet young teen. As the day wore on, the leader kept tickling, hugging and touching the girls to the point that they were uncomfortable. The teens came to some of the adults and expressed their feelings (“creepy, weird”) about the leader. It’s usually hard for a teen to bring up such an issue. Because we asked questions, we learned very important information from the kids.
What I was seeing was “grooming” behavior. The leader had been approaching each girl to see which one would allow his invasion of her personal space. I made a report, not because I saw abuse occur, but because I suspected abuse had either happened before, or would happen in the future. I knew that CPS would do a background check which would tell them if he had a CPS, DPS, or an FBI history. If he had an abusive past, then my report would “fit” like a missing puzzle piece. If there was no past, then the report would end without an investigation. Either way, I did what was mandated.
We have a statewide hotline for both children and for elderly or disabled adults. You can call toll free (1-800-252-5400) or you can make the report online. CPS immediately notifies the reporter online that the report was received and later sends a letter after the investigation is completed. No one will be given detailed information about the investigation, even the complainant. The identity of the complainant or reporter is protected, and will not be released to the family being investigated. See the CPS website for more information at www.dfps.state.tx.us.
