JACKSON, Tenn. — Nov. 12, 2004 — Statistics show that one in four women will have been sexually abused by the time they鈥檙e 18, according to Mary Anne Poe of 51社区.
鈥淐hild sexual abuse is a bigger problem than most people want to think it is,鈥� said Poe, associate professor of social work and chair of the social work department. 鈥淎 lot of sexual abuse doesn鈥檛 get reported as easily and early on.鈥�
Poe said many times when the issue of sexual abuse surfaces, parents become fearful of strangers as the greatest threat to their children.
鈥淏ut the reality is most child sexual abuse happens with people that you know,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat complicates all the issues for children.鈥�
Because the problem is a significant one, those who work with children need to be able to recognize the symptoms of child sexual abuse and be able to respond appropriately. That鈥檚 the topic of an upcoming forum at 51社区 that will feature the Nashville organization, 鈥淵ou Have the Power 鈥� Know How to Use It.鈥�
Tennessee First Lady Andrea Comte started 鈥淵ou Have the Power鈥� in 1993 as a non-profit agency dedicated to raising awareness about crime and justice issues. In addition to the presentation by 鈥淵ou Have the Power鈥� on preventing and responding to child sexual abuse, the forum will feature a panel discussion with local juvenile judge Christy Little; Delaine Bottoms of the Carl Perkins Child Abuse Prevention Center; Mildred Lawhorn, regional administrator for the Department of Children Services; and a sexual abuse survivor.
鈥淭his program is designed for anyone who has an interest in protecting children in this way, but especially people who work with children, who would be in a position to recognize and respond to children that are suffering this kind of abuse,鈥� Poe said.
That group would include teachers, preschool workers, nursery workers, youth ministers, social workers and anyone else who wants to do their part to help in the area of child sexual abuse.
Bottoms has seen the presentation from 鈥淵ou Have the Power鈥� before, and one part of it in particular stood out to her.
鈥淥ne of the most interesting things is they have developed a video where they went into a prison and interviewed people who were perpetrators,鈥� Bottoms said. 鈥淪o you get to see the perspective of child sexual abuse also from the perpetrator鈥檚 standpoint.鈥�
The average age for sexual abuse to take place is 7, Bottoms said, and the abuse usually goes on for three years before the victim tells anybody about it.
鈥淚t is a life-altering experience,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here are some people who take it to the grave with them.鈥�
The forum will be Monday, Nov. 15, from 3-5 p.m. in Harvey Hall in the Student Union Building on Union鈥檚 campus. The event is free and open to the public.
For more information about the forum, contact Union鈥檚 social work department at (731) 661-5554.