Help lines available for victims of child abuse

To the editor

Though details of former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky’s arrest are still unfolding, the case has catapulted the topic of child sexual abuse into the national spotlight.

Sadly, the sexual abuse of children is not an anomaly. The YWCA has been providing crisis services to adult and child victims of sexual violence in Oneida and Herkimer Counties since the late 1970s. In 2010 alone, we worked with 277 child victims of sexual violence.

While the notion of “stranger danger” is familiar to us all, the reality is sexual abusers are most often people the child knows and trusts, people who have presented themselves as kind, caring and trustworthy. Victims are often threatened, bribed, or frightened into not disclosing or reporting, and believe—or are told—the abuse is their fault.

What happens when abused children don’t disclose or get help? We all pay the price. Crime, suicide, drug use, and promiscuity are all linked to abuse. Studies show that many juvenile offenders, sexual offenders, and addicts were sexually abused as children.

It is imperative that we acknowledge sexual abuse and discuss it with our children. Though it is important not to be paranoid and afraid, it is vital to know who our children are interacting with and to whom we are entrusting their care.

If you or someone you know needs help with child sexual abuse—regardless of when the abuse occurred—call the YWCA’s confidential 24-hour hotlines: (315) 797-7740 in Oneida County and (315) 866-4120 in Herkimer County.

Sincerely,

Natalie L. Brown