A Child Advocate's Blog

This week, a research study out of the Department of Mental Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health revealed that the lifetime economic burden of child sexual abuse (CSA) is over $9 billion. This estimate took into account the major costs associated with CSA such as health care costs, productivity losses, child welfare costs, special education costs, and death/suicide costs. (Letourneau, E., et al., 2018). In the time of #MeToo and #TimesUp, we must not forget the tiny voices of children who experience sexual abuse. Thank you to researchers Letourneau and Mercy for continuing to shed light on child sexual abuse and its consequences. To read more about the research, read this article: https://news.gsu.edu/2018/03/28/child-sexual-abuse-in-u-s-costs-up-to-1-5-million-per-child-death-study-finds/ 

Baker, Coakley Wrangle Over DCF 10:48 AM WED OCTOBER 15, 2014 By RUPA SHENOY http://wgbhnews.org/post/baker-coakley-wrangle-over-dcf Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker has faulted his Democratic rival, Martha Coakley, for her handling of a lawsuit brought by a New York nonprofit against the state of Massachusetts. Baker charges that by fighting an out-of-state, nonprofit child advocacy group in court, rather than negotiating with them, Coakley missed an opportunity to improve care for the Bay State’s most at-risk children. That was four years ago, when a New York-based group called Children’s Rights alleged in federal court that the state Department of Children and Families exhibited a detailed and troubling pattern of negligence in the care of some of its charges. Coakley, representing the state as attorney general, convinced a Boston federal judge that Children’s Rights hadn’t made its case. The nonprofit is appealing. Baker says Coakley coul...

Bill extends time limit on sexual abuse lawsuits Would let alleged child victims file until age 53 By Travis Andersen, Derek J. Anderson and Jennifer Smith  | GLOBE STAFF | GLOBE CORRESPONDENTS   JUNE 20, 2014 http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/06/19/senate-passes-bill-give-alleged-sex-abuse-victims-more-time-file-lawsuits/m91An2iTb0EZSPdsioS4eI/story.html  The Massachusetts Legislature is on the verge of finalizing a bill that will give alleged child sexual abuse victims an additional 32 years to file civil lawsuits, a move one specialist said will open the door to thousands of new cases. The bill would extend the statute of limitations for filing suits against alleged perpetrators and, in future cases, the people or institution supervising them. Under the legislation, the victims would be able to file suits up to age 53, instead of the current limit of age 21. The Senate passed the measure Thursday, after it was approved by the House Wednesday. Lawmakers ...

Statute of Limitations Bill Passes Unanimously in House and Senate Advocates and Church Leaders Arrive at Compromise June 19, 2012, BOSTON, MA – Behind-the-scenes diplomacy over the past several months among legislators, legal experts, child advocates and Church officials has resulted in a bill that will finally provide civil relief for victims of child sexual abuse who were previously time-barred by law from filing charges against their alleged abusers. The bill moved quickly through the Judiciary Committee, championed by Senator William Brownsberger, recently appointed Senate Co-Chair of the Committee. House sponsor Representative John Lawn shepherded it through to the House where it was passed unanimously on Thursday. Late today, the Senate also confirmed its unanimous support. The bill, which includes an emergency provision, will go into immediate effect upon Governor Patrick’s signing and he is expected to do so. Any child 18 or younger who is abused after the law goes into ...

We at MassKids have been working hard, read about our efforts in the latest MassKids Chronicle here! http://www.icontact-archive.com/vbh4RGfk5zSDr9JJefnN627_H-wgy4g_?w=3

BY LESLIE CROCKER SNYDER  NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Monday, May 5, 2014, 4:30 AM http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ending-sex-abuse-epidemic-article-1.1777735 Every week, we learn of new charges of sexual abuse and rape at schools that have allegedly mishandled or hidden complaints by victims. Last week it was Columbia University; the week before, it was Florida State. It has been three years since the Penn State-Jerry Sandusky horror, and little has been accomplished. Almost as disturbing as the abuse itself are the revelations of institutional bungling of investigations, and sometimes, failure to investigate at all. Sadly, sexual abuse extends far beyond the church, the military, sports and our universities. It is widespread in our secondary schools, where it is estimated that one in five children has been abused by a school educator or employee between kindergarten and 12th grade. By now, almost everyone has heard about the decades of sexual abuse at the Horace Mann school. ...

Cherishing Every Child this Holiday Season Stop the Hurt. Donate to MassKids Today! Please take just a few minutes from your busy holiday schedule to listen to a brief message from Senator Elizabeth Warren that speaks to the critical problem of child sexual abuse and MassKids’ leadership in addressing an issue which the American Medical Association has called “a silent, violent epidemic.” We also invite you to hear an inspiring and uplifting song performed by Framingham children at our recent Summit to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse in Schools and Youth Organizations. "Stop the hurt before it starts, we don't need more broken hearts," they sing. They remind us that children look to us - their parents, relatives, teachers, and other caring adults - to protect them from abuse and exploitation. MassKids has been an effective advocate for our state’s most vulnerable children for over half a century. We hope you will help support MassKids today with your holiday gift so th...

Helping Parents Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Jetta Bernier's Guest Post to " Safe To Compete ", a program of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children http://tmblr.co/Zf7J_qu3U8w5  Efforts to prevent child sexual abuse over the past decade are showing results and confirmed cases are down. Yet still too many children - an estimated 1 in 10 - are at risk of being sexually abused or exploited. As a parent, you can be your child’s best protection. Here’s how. What’s a Parent to Do? Begin talking to your child about body boundaries and privacy by age 3. Remember, it’s easy, if you begin early and reinforce messages over time. Only allow those you trust to provide genital, perianal and bathing care for your child. Encourage children’s independence in personal self-care. Discourage co-bathing with siblings and adults. Introduce concepts of “OK” and “Not OK” touch. Avoid using the terms “good or bad touch.”  Children get confused by the notions that a ...

Sex-Wise Parents can raise sexually safer and healthier kids! Reposted from the Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM,) Blog, original post found here:  Sex-Wise Parents can raise sexually safer and healthier kids! | National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) This week the Talk Early, Talk Often series continues on the SAAM Blog with a guest post from author and expert Dr. Janet Rosenzweig. Join us on Tueday, April 2 for a twitter chat hosted by @JanetRosenzweig on child sexual abuse prevention. Use the hashtag #TweetAboutIt to participate.  Parents are the strongest influence on their children's decisions about sex and sexuality, yet most parents underestimate their own power. A major national survey reported in 2010 that 46 percent of teens continue to say that parents most influence their decisions about sex, while just 20 percent say friends most influence their decisions. At the same time, parents overestimate the influence media and friends have on thei...

Unclear if state mandated reporter law applies to former Brooks headmaster January 11, 2013 By Douglas Moser dmoser@eagletribune.com Unclear if state mandated reporter law applies to former Brooks headmaster NORTH ANDOVER — The relationship Brooks School disclosed last week involving its former headmaster and a one-time student was not reported to state children’s services authorities, and it is unclear whether a report was required under state law with the information made public so far. Massachusetts requires a range of professionals who work with or near children, including school officials, to report suspicions or evidence of neglect or physical or sexual abuse to the state Department of Families and Children or face a fine. Brooks disclosed in a letter to alumni on Jan. 3 that former headmaster Lawrence W. Becker had an inappropriate relationship with a student at some point during his tenure. A school spokeswoman said the relationship occurred while publisher Steve For...

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 dec...

Prep school head failed to report impropriety; Headmaster allegations at first unknown to authorities AP Steve Forbes served as president of the brooks School’s board of trustess at the time in question. (AP) January 4, 2013 Peter Schworn   The Boston Globe Former headmaster of Brooks School...                 Despite knowing that the headmaster of Brooks School had ­engaged in an improper relationship with a student, publishing executive Steve Forbes, president of the college preparatory school’s board of trustees at the time, did not report the incident to authorities, the school said Friday.   Forbes, an alumnus who served as board president from 1987 to 1997, took steps to address the matter but did not discipline the headmaster, Lawrence W. Becker, or report the ­alleged relationship to the full board, ...

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...

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)