Children need more shields from predators

Collectively, the narratives of alleged sexual abuse of children connected to Boys & Girls Clubs of America stitch together a horrific tapestry.

The temptation is to avert the gaze from such atrocities, but they plead for scrutiny of the even bigger picture.

Over six months, Hearst Connecticut Media journalists identified 250 people in 30 states who say they suffered sexual abuse as children at the hands of club employees and volunteers. The resulting database — apparently the first of its kind — documents criminal convictions and civil lawsuits as well as pending cases, incidents that allegedly involved victims as young as 6 and sometimes continued for years. There are, undoubtedly, more victims who were betrayed by adults they were asked to trust. Not just at Boys & Girls Clubs, but also at similar agencies.

It’s not easy for a victim to speak up at any age. One telling detail is the suggestion that the average age of a victim of child sex abuse coming forward is 52.

There are many obstacles to pointing to a predator. A child’s perceived shame, an adult’s resistance to

reliving nightmares and being challenged about their veracity.

These victims don’t have the option of forgetting. They deserve diligent efforts from others to learn from their experiences to shield the children of today, and tomorrow.

The past reveals slipshod practices, the present suggests progress, but the future must deliver many more safeguards.

As the largest organization of its kind in the United States, serving 4 million children, the Boys & Girls Club should strive to become a model for best practices. Many affiliates contacted by our journalists reported receiving mandated reporter training and conducting criminal background checks for staff and volunteers.

Some plaintiffs, though, point to gaps in the system. The Hearst investigation unveiled that abusers allegedly roamed from club to club, safety guidelines were ignored, and the national organization neglected to maintain a public record of abuse cases.

Beyond internal flaws, there are also outdated state policies (including in Connecticut) that exempt agencies such as the Boys & Girls Clubs from stricter oversight. This must be corrected.

And there are inconsistencies from state to state regarding the window of time in which victims can file civil claims and law enforcement can investigate criminal cases.

There should be no loopholes when it comes to the abuse of children. The pain does not have an expiration date. Resistance from agencies, churches and insurance companies is ultimately just a matter of money.

Boys & Girls Club officials argued that added mandates would drive fees out of reach for lowincome clients. The services are of no value if they can’t ensure safety to these families.

This bigger picture is framed by the repellent reality that predators walk among us. The societal ills of sexual abuse won’t be vanquished simply by recognizing them, but by a unified pursuit of solutions.

The most challenging pictures to view are sometimes ones that hold the most profound truths. To end sex abuse of children, we should all be part of this tapestry.

There should be no loopholes when it comes to the abuse of children. The pain does not have an expiration date.