A Child Advocate's Blog

This article, published in Lehigh Valley Live, highlights the efforts of officials and organizations in Warren County, NJ to prevent child sexual abuse.  Warren County is one of three counties in New Jersey to adopt the Enough Abuse Campaign (Referred to here as the "Enough Abuse" Program).  Rush Russell, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse - New Jersey makes an important point when he points out that there aren't many child sexual abuse prevention programs designed to highlight adult responsibility - it is a different mindset where the responsibility for preventing sexually abusive behaviors is not solely that of the children targeted by abusers. Rather, our program gives parents and other 'stakeholder' adults education on this issue and training on steps they can take - from specific messages and talking points for their kids to recognizing warning signs in abusers and victims. Warren County has 'secret problem' with child abuse, official says

December 13, 2012 -- 12 AM EST MassKids, 14 Beacon Street, Suite 706, Boston Contact: Jetta Bernier, Executive Director jetta@masskids.org 617-742-8555 ext.2 617-827-5218 (cell) PRESS RELEASE Infant/toddler Sex Abuse Case Prompts Advocates to Press for  Statute of Limitations (SOL) Reform Before Year-End Deadline Push for Expansion of Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Campaign December 13, 2012, BOSTON, MA – Child advocates today urged legislators to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill that would reform the state’s current Statute of Limitations in cases of child sexual abuse. “The public’s response to the sexual abuse of 13 infants and toddlers by Level 1 sex offender John Burbine has been very strong” said Jetta Bernier, director of MassKids, a statewide non-profit child abuse prevention group. “People are upset and want solutions to prevent these heinous crimes from happening. One way the public can channel this outrage is

On everyone who comes into contact with their child. Watch this interview by Fox 25 News of MassKids Executive Director Jetta Bernier about important information that parents need to know about protecting their children from child sexual abuse. Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Friday, December 07, 2012 WALTHAM, Mass. — Physicians of the Massachusetts Medical Society have produced a series of 10 brochures to help parents identify and deal with a range of topics on youth violence, including bullying, dating and street violence, violence in the media, and child sexual abuse .( emphasis ours) They are available free to parents, educators, youth counselors, or others who work with children and youth. Originated by Dr. Robert D. Sege and developed by the Medical Society's Committee on Violence Intervention and Prevention, the current publications are updated versions of a previous series and contain information from a variety of sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and Massachusetts Citizens for Children. They are written by experts in the field of youth violence. Dr. Elliot Pittel, chairman of the society's Committee on Violence Intervention and Prevention and a psychiatrist at The Home for Little Wanderers in Boston, called attent

Check out this video with Pathways for Children Executive Director Sue Todd in a discussion about the Wakefield sex abuse scandal and also tips on making sure your child is safe with their caretaker http://www.myfoxboston.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=8043182  Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Parents ask: How can we really know? By Martine Powers Globe Staff /  December 7, 2012 The Boston Globe To view the original article with accompanying video go to Boston.com's website here Christina Kirkwood, a ­Woburn mother of two, has ­every confidence in her child care provider. The day care, run out of the home of a Woburn family, passes all her tests: The caretakers are licensed. They came with great references. One is an official with the local Fire Department. Still, she says, hearing allegations about a Wakefield child care provider was painful. “It rattles me,” she said. “It bothers me a lot that this would happen.” After news spread about the arrest of the Wakefield child caretaker on charges of a disturbing series of sexual ­assaults, parents and child advo­cates said the case highlights the challenges of guarding against dangerous child care providers. Child advocates said the ­alleged incidents should remind parents of the measures they

Watch this NECN interview of Sue Todd, Spokesperson for the Enough Abuse Campaign North Shore and Executive Director of Pathways for Children.  She discusses the Wakefield sex abuse case and some of the things that all parents need to know about finding safe child care. WATCH HERE (video will open in new window)

By Beth Teitell, Globe Staff The Boston Globe December 4, 2012 Gretchen Ertl for the Boston Globe Debbie Currie watches what her children do on their electronic devices Pollyanna Santos doesn’t let her 6-year-old son play at a friend’s house unless she knows all of the adults who live in the home — and those who might be visiting. “You don’t know what can happen in the next room,” said Santos, a waitress from East Boston. In Braintree, Debbie Currie feels anxious when she leaves her 7-year-old daughter at gymnastics class. “There are 20 other kids in there, and we live in a nice town, but you just never know,” said Currie, a customer service supervisor for Comcast. Bernice Ferrara, a retired MBTA bus driver from Brockton, will not let her 15-month-old granddaughter sit on Santa’s lap because she doesn’t know the man behind the beard. “I don’t want to feel that way,” she said. “But I do.” After years of revelations about sexual predators lurking in some of our most high