"We Can Make It Right" A message from PCAA
We Can Make It Right.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHICAGO, IL, January 14, 2013 – Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett recently launched a lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) seeking to have all of the NCAA penalties against Penn State’s football program thrown out. These sanctions brought about by the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse case include a $60 million fine which is to be used for funding child sexual abuse prevention and treatment programming.
The lawsuit represents an about face in terms of Governor Corbett’s public position on the sanctions. This past July he was quoted as saying, “We must repair the damage to this university. Part of that corrective process is to accept the serious penalties imposed by the NCAA on Penn State University and its football program.”
The temptation is to ask why Governor Corbett has chosen to do this, or even seek to answer that question ourselves. But asking why or trying to discern the impetus for this decision is not where we need to focus our attention. What’s important is recognizing that our real focus is on fixing an ugly situation that is all too common.
We live in a culture that up until now has allowed for silence and shame, and at times has all too willingly puts profits and brands ahead of people. It doesn’t have to be this way though, we can do what’s right, not sometimes, all the time, and when we do, what’s wrong will be illuminated for all to see.
Each one of us has the ability to change this culture; and both individually and collectively, we can do something every day to prevent not just child sexual abuse, but all forms of child abuse and neglect.
We can all knock on our neighbor’s doors and offer to be of assistance during times of crisis. We can all volunteer at child sexual abuse prevention organizations. We can all ask our local media to highlight what works in terms of enhancing the lives of the children and families in our communities. And we can all ask business leaders and policymakers what their vision is for the healthy development of all children and their families.
We can do this, all of us, together. We can shine a light on what’s wrong and we can make it right.
“I call on the citizens of this great country to say enough,” said James M. Hmurovich, President & CEO, Prevent Child Abuse America. “Enough silence. Enough shame. I also call on everyone to join us in this dialogue and provide a voice in your communities that says we are done looking the other way. We all play a role in prevention, now let’s come together and do something about it.”
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ABOUT PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AMERICA
Prevent Child Abuse America, founded in 1972 in Chicago, works to ensure the healthy development of children nationwide. The organization promotes that vision through a network of chapters in 50 states and 530 Healthy Families America home visitation sites in 39 states, the Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada. A major organizational focus is to advocate for the existence of a national policy framework and strategy for children and families while promoting evidence-based practices that prevent abuse and neglect from ever occurring. To learn more about what we’re doing to prevent child abuse and neglect and how you can help, please visit us here and here.
