11/20/2011
By CHRIS HUNTER Salina Journal

EDITOR'S NOTE: Editor and Publisher Tom Bell says society has made great strides in warning parents and children about sexual abuse, but it's still far too prevalent. Page A7.

As more details of the alleged sexual assaults of boys by Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky at football camps come to light, local child advocacy representatives say the allegations should make parents more aware but not stop them from sending their kids to events.

"The horror of thinking now about the incident is about how many have attended similar camps across the country," said Carolee Jones, executive director of Child Advocacy & Parenting Services (CAPS), of Salina. "Families may no longer feel comfortable enough to do that. However, this is not a reason to not send children to sports camps.

"Not everyone is a sexual predator, but the difficulty would be knowing who is. The last thing you think of (when thinking of sending a child to camp) would be sexual abuse."

Sandusky has been charged with 40 counts of sexual abuse of boys over a 15-year period. The fallout from the revelations has claimed the jobs of some top Penn State university officials, including legendary football coach Joe Paterno, for failing to report the allegations to police.

While the allegations such as those against Sandusky are rare, CAPS program director Deb Jensen said sexual abuse happens more often than people realize. Jensen said one out of every four girls and one out of six boys in the U.S. has been sexually abused.

The number of children who have been seen by CAPS who allege sexual abuse since it opened in 1978 has been increasing, Jensen said. The center sees more than 140 kids a year from Dickinson, Saline, Ottawa and Ellsworth counties. Jensen said a lot more predators have gone to jail because of the reporting.

Jones said the typical sexual predator has as many as 300 victims in their lifetime.

"I think this happens a lot more," Jensen said. "A lot of incidents don't get reported."

Warning signs?

Jones and Jensen said that in the Sandusky case, warning signs were visible. They say he appeared to have immersed himself in the lives of children he allegedly abused -- including taking showers with them, something that he admits.

"Predators are people that prey on children and put themselves in situations to be the best friend of these kids," Jones said. "They groom the children. These boys trusted him."

Jensen said more than 80 percent of sexual predators are people the children and family know. She said they could be a neighbor, family member, coach or pastor.

"Sexual predators are clever to be able to get access to children," Jensen said. "The parents probably trusted him (Sandusky) and allowed the children to spend time alone with him."

Why they didn't tell

The oldest allegation against Sandusky is 15 years old, which prompts the question: Why didn't the boys talk about the abuse earlier?

Jensen, Jones and John Pressley, director of youth services at Central Kansas Mental Health Center, of Salina, said sexual abuse victims often are silenced by embarrassment.

"Boys are often fearful of reporting because of the homosexual nature" of sexual abuse, Jones said. "They think they will be labeled as gay, which is definitely not the case."

Jones said many children often feel they are at fault.

Pressley said victims also might have something to lose by reporting the crime.

"It (the abuse) may be to the child's advantage (in their minds)," Pressley said. "The child may be getting some goodies that they don't want to give up. In the case of Penn State, it was access to the games and going into the Penn State locker room. That is something they probably didn't want to give up."

Pressley said predators often threaten victims or their family and pets.

Jones said children also may have thought it would be their word against Sandusky's, who also ran a children's foundation.

"These poor little boys, who was going to believe them over this coach, who runs a children's foundation?" Jones said.

Looking for signs

Even if children don't speak of the abuse, they'll often exhibit warning signs.

Younger children often begin wetting the bed, become sexually aggressive in child care, become depressed, suffer a loss of appetite and interest, make statements about being worthless and dirty, become suicidal, complain about pains in private areas of the body, and become afraid to sleep by themselves.

Pressley said some younger children he has dealt with have also spread feces across walls in bathrooms.

In older children, the victims often become more sexually active, withdraw from society, experience rapid weight gain, become depressed and abuse other children.

Victims can contract sexually transmitted infections, have a painful discharge, act out sexually and become pregnant.

"These signs need immediate attention," Pressley said. "Especially if a child is talking about suicide."

Treatment, Happy Bear

As horrible as sexual abuse is, Pressley said, children can be treated.

"It is not a hopeless situation," Pressley said. "This can be addressed. People can lead productive and satisfying lives. This is not a life sentence."

However, he said, the treatment requires a lot of work on the part of the victim and family.

Pressley said younger children are more likely to report the abuse because they aren't as embarrassed. He said interviewers often have to help the child understand it is not their fault.

"Sometimes, we have to rebuild who they are and their function in the world," Pressley said. "That is compromised when someone preys on a child in this manner."

Power of Chris' Place

One way CAPS is able to help children of sexual abuse is Chris's Place, where children are interviewed by a single interviewer while different groups watch through a one-way mirror.

"Interviews are very frightening for children, but this is a friendly place that is a bright and a fun environment," Jensen said. "Many children want to come back and play after interviews."

Jensen said the interviewers are careful to let the child tell their story and not ask leading questions. She said other groups watching can feed the interviewer questions through a microphone.

Jones said programs such as CAPS's Happy Bear are helping spread the awareness about sexual abuse. The program is used across school districts in Saline County.

"The message is, if anyone gives you a touch that makes you feel mad, sad or scared, never keep it a secret," Jones said. "If anyone asks you to keep it a secret, you should tell immediately.

"Kids should never keep touches a secret," Jones said. "They need to know early on that their body is their own, and private areas are private areas."

Jones said parents must also must remind their children to report incidents.

All allegations serious

Capt. Mike Sweeney, of The Salina Police Department, said law enforcement officers take every allegation seriously.

"We have investigators that specialize in interviewing children," Sweeney said.

Sweeney said police work with CAPS and the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services to investigate incidents and help the children.

Sweeney said children may be removed from a home if it is "not a healthy environment" or if the child is in danger.

'Moral responsibility'

Jones said too many officials at Penn State did just the minimum when it came to reporting the allegations.

"They just sent it up the chain," she said. "This should have been stopped early.

"We all have a moral responsibility to protect children. If you see something that doesn't seem right, call SRS or the police department."

-- Reporter Chris Hunter can be reached at 822-1422 or by email at chunter@salina.com.

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