Saturday News Clippings

The First Step in Stopping Abuse is to Report It (Houston Chronicle)

It takes two years, on average, for children to tell someone they’ve been sexually abused. Why do they wait so long?

They’re afraid, says Nancy Kellogg, a San Antonio pediatrician and University of Texas professor. “If I tell, what if my mom doesn’t believe me?” they wonder. “What if I get put in foster care?” “What if he comes after me or my family?”But even when children do tell – or even when outsiders witness the abuse – the crime doesn’t always get reported.

The scandal at Pennsylvania State University underscores the fear and ignorance surrounding sex crimes against children. When abuse is suspected, who should report it? And even if you’re not legally bound to report what you know or suspect, are you not morally obligated? (Read more at Houston Chronicle)

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