When I was invited to speak I thought what would I have to contribute? Then I thought I am a perfect person to speak to the serious issue of Child Sexual abuse
My first job out of college was a Deputy Probation Officer. As all rookies we were assigned to write pre sentence reports. It was my job to collect psychosocial, work, family and criminal history and then recommend sentencing to the courts.
I had several child molesters that I would recommend state prison as a sentence. I was taken back by the number who was victims themselves and vowed never to do that to their children. Child abuse is a learned trained cycle that gets passed on to children.
Then I worked as Family Counselor in the diversion program. As clients get comfortable they tell you more. You learn first hand the horrible consequences that child sexual abuse has on adolescent normal development. People you should trust the most are hurting you and confusing you. You don’t have a role model to teach you love affection respect .Mainstays in a healthy adult relationship. The family dynamic is destroyed. Fear, isolation, relationship difficulties, trust unrealistic expectations and denial that prevents you from forming emotional bonds.
Then I worked as a Community Services Manager in charge of Youth and Family Service programs. We hired literally 100’s of people to work with youth each year. . I feared two things. One would be a person would drown in one of my pools or two I would despite all our efforts at background screening, observing and training would hire a pedophile. They always try to get jobs that place them around youth.
Finally as a coach of youth baseball, hockey and soccer I gained insight into the issues addressed in this training. . I had to think about when the last kid gets picked up. I remember setting a few feet away to avoid any concerns. I usually got my assistance to stay on the field until the kid got picked up.
This training can be used to help organizations guard against that. I will provide tools for people working in the field. It will help supervisorsidentify potential program policies that will help reduce the exposure. The training can help mandated reporters more effectively identify and report child abuse.
They say most crime is a motive matching opportunity. We can’t completely take the motive from the pedophiles in our society. They have very deep sick pervasive pathology. But we can in some cases take the opportunity away.
Please support this training.
