Pass bill to protect children from abuse
Lost amid all the coverage of the COVID-19 stimulus bill and now the Biden infrastructure plan was the reintroduction of the bipartisan Jenna Quinn Law by Sens. John Cornyn and Maggie Hassan. Named for a child abuse survivor and modeled after state legislation enacted several years ago in Texas, the bill would authorize federal grants to train and educate teachers, caregivers and other adults who work with children, as well as students themselves on how to identify, report and prevent child sexual abuse.
Passage could not come soon enough. The lockdowns and school closures imposed last year to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus have resulted in children who are most vulnerable being isolated from the resources and people who could help protect them and report the abuse. When you add in increased levels of stress, frustration, anxiety, isolation and depression, as well as the economic instability and job losses the pandemic has caused, we are in the midst of a perfect storm for a rise in child abuse.
Even before the onset of the pandemic, it was estimated that 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys were victims of child sexual abuse according to the National Center for Victims of Crime. Ninety percent of this abuse is committed by someone in a trusting relationship with the child; more often than not that person is a family member, according to the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center. In fact, youth commit more than a third of all the sexual offenses against other youth that are reported to police.
Only time will tell how many children have been abused over the COVID months.
Even so, with the return to whatever the new normal will be post-COVID, youth will be brought into greater contact with nonfamily adults or other youth who may well have an increased interest in sexually abusing younger children.
So it is time to prepare children and their families to disclose abuse that has taken place over quarantine and to protect themselves in the future. To do so, there needs to be a “stimulus” bill to attack the problem — that is the overarching mission of the Jenna Quinn Law. Until that legislation is passed, however, there are steps we can immediately take on the road to prevention. Let’s think of these steps in terms of infrastructure. There is much talk — and rightfully so — about ensuring the safety of bridges, roads and our energy grid. Similarly, we have an obligation to ensure America’s human infrastructure by guaranteeing very child’s right to a normal, safe, happy and healthy childhood.
First and foremost, then, we need both children and parents to be better educated and empowered. That means parents learning how to talk to their kids about consent, giving their children permission to say “no.” It also means training adults and children not to be “by-standers” but rather be “up-standers.” In other words, if you see something, say something.
The Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center has produced animated videos that provide an excellent way to open the discussion with kids of all ages. These videos are currently being viewed in schools in over 10,000 U.S communities, many in response to “Erin’s Law” legislation that has been enacted in 37 states. More schools, youth groups, and especially families with parents and children together need to watch these videos. Other organizations that offer easy-to-comprehend resources include the Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAINN), National Sexual Violence Resource Center and Darkness to Light.
Of great importance, pediatricians need to be encouraged to screen for abuse during all routine examinations, just as they check children’s eyes, ears, heart and reflexes. They should engage their young patients’ parents in discussing how their family can discuss sexual abuse and sexual abuse prevention.
Every organization touching the lives of children should be required to have a youth protection policy, review the policy annually with youth and adults in the program, and encourage violations of the policy to be reported immediately to appropriate authorities. Above all, this policy must support the healthy development of children.
If steps are taken now and in the near future, the post-COVID life of children can move in the direction of preventing sexual abuse and ensuring America’s future, its human infrastructure.