The Children's Advocacy Center of Jackson County

Category: Do One Thing

  • All Adults are KEY to protecting our children from abuse

    All Adults are KEY to protecting our children from abuse

    By Tammi Pitzen, Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County

     

    April is Child Abuse Awareness month.  I want to use this opportunity to talk to you about the unvarnished and raw truth about child abuse. 

    Generally, people do not like to talk about it.  I have been in meetings where we are talking about events for child abuse awareness and people do not want to talk about the non-sugar-coated version of this public health issue. It isn’t because people do not care.  I think it is because it is overwhelming.  I think it is because if you only look at the statistics and not the things you can do to prevent or intervene in abuse…. it is downright depressing.

    Here is the harsh reality….

    • 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.  In an average classroom in the United States there are somewhere between 20 to 30 students.  That means in every classroom there are two to three children who have been sexually abused or who will be sexually abused
    • In our country, between 4 and 5 children every day die from child abuse or neglect.  That seems so high in a country as advanced as ours. 
    • In Jackson County in 2017 (the latest information that has been released) we have 850 confirmed victims of child abuse. 
    • In the state of Oregon in 2017 there were 30 children who died as a result of abuse or neglect.
    • We all want to believe (and I am right there with you all) that child abuse does not happen in our community, in our circle of friends or in our family.  But the statistics tell a different story.  There are reports made.  There are investigations initiated.  AND there are reports found to be true and backed up by evidence.

    Do you read those numbers and feel the same sense of urgency that I do to intervene…. to be a catalyst of change…. to be part of the tipping point? 

    These numbers are not just statistics.  They are children.  Every single number represents a child.

    You may be asking yourself…. what can one person do? I am so glad you asked. 

    We are the key to protection for children.  All of us.  Singularly and in groups.  We.  Together.  We are the solution.

    Here are some things that any of us can do to help prevent child abuse:

    1. You can take a class through the CAC’s Protect Our Children program to learn to recognize and respond to child sexual abuse.
    2. You can support the prevention efforts of your local CAC by donating precious time or financial support to their prevention programs.
    3. You can become a foster parent. While this is not primary prevention…. it certainly helps to break the cycle of abuse if we have good, stable, safe, homes to place children when they cannot remain at home.
    4. You can smile at a stressed-out Mom or Dad who is yelling or not treating a child in a way that is appropriate. And tell them what a beautiful child they have.  Believe it or not, it works.  I have tried this and, on occasion, the situation de-escalates pretty quickly.
    5. You can listen to and treat with respect your own children.
    6. You can talk to your children — both those who were born to you and those who are in your life — about body safety, about consent, and about what “no” means.
    7. You can be present in your child’s life by knowing who is in his/her life and setting rules about who can have access to him/her.
    8. Become a volunteer facilitator for the CAC Protect Our Children program.
    9. Do not be a bystander when you see a child being hurt or mistreated. Make a report.
    10. If a child says that someone is hurting them, respond by making a report, by reassuring them, by believing them, and by thanking them for trusting you.
    11. Get involved with the issue. Volunteer at the CAC.  Volunteer at another child serving agency. 
    12. TALK ABOUT ABUSE. Break the silence.
    13. Stop stigmatizing the issue and the children that are at the heart of the issue. If a child could make it stop…. they would.  The issues lie with the adults and not with the child.
    14. If you see a child that is disruptive and not pleasant to be around, remember that they may just be trying to survive. Offer them kindness instead of judgement.
    15. Be present in your child’s life.

    If you want to get involved by volunteering at the CAC either in our programming, as a facilitator of Protect Our Children or in support of Protect Our Children classes, please contact Danae Crawford, our Volunteer Coordinator at 541-734-5437 Ext. 1013.

     

    Tammi Pitzen

  • The 872 abused children in Jackson County are “Our People”

     

    By Tammi Pitzen, Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County

    I am sitting in my office this morning blasting music before everyone gets here.  This is not unusual.  I tend to get here before staff and before things get too hectic to plan out my day and to get as much done prior to the busyness of the day starts.

    It is during these precious minutes in the sort of quiet of my morning that I am able to focus on the mission of the CAC.

     I am able to hear the silence of the abused children in our community. 

    The month of April is always a poignant reflection on the work that we do because it is “our” month (Child Abuse Prevention/Awareness and Sexual Assault Awareness Month).   In 2016 there were 872 abused children in our community, according to the latest version of the Child Welfare Data Book.  I find that number astounding. 

    But what bothers me even more are the children that remain silent.  It actually scares me a little. 

    According to some statistics we know that about 30% of child sexual abuse goes undisclosed and unreported. 

    I have been working in this field for 28 years.  I started in my twenties.  My first job was with a rural child protection agency in Louisiana.  I was literally hired before I graduated.  During finals week I drove home for an interview on a Saturday.  I started work the day after my graduation ceremony because I needed to have my diploma in order to begin with the State. 

    I went back and began working in the community where I graduated high school.  The population of the parish seat was under 8,000 and the parish was around 50,000.  These were “my people” as we would say in the South.  I either knew them, knew of them, knew their aunt, their sister, their brother or graduated with their cousin.  Seriously.

    I had no idea what I was walking into.  I had no idea the heartache I would feel when assigned a report that involved someone that I went to high school with.  It was a military town, so mostly I prayed to get a report involving the families on post.

    In retrospect this was the best thing that could have happened to build the best foundation for what turned out to be my life’s work.  I learned some key skills that I am recognizing many in the field have not developed. 

    I learned humility.  I learned compassion.  I learned empathy. I also learned the art of persuasion.  This was sometimes the only tool available to get you off the front porch facing a very angry father, who held a gun in his hand, and to the kitchen table, with a glass of sweet tea in front of you.  Let me clarify. The gun was never pointed at me and, truth be told, this only happened to me once. These people…my people…were those I grew up with.  They were people, in some cases, that were adults that I respected. 

    I can almost pinpoint when I developed these skills.  There was a legislative change in my state and all unfounded reports had to be expunged from all records.  The pay for a caseworker in Louisiana at that time was pretty low.  This was an opportunity to make some overtime, so many of us would come in on the weekends and work on expunging records. 

    During that process, I came across many records of people I went to school with.  When I realized how many of the kids I went to school and church with that were reported as victims of abuse, my childhood played back in my mind in slow motion, in segments.  I could literally remember moments when I was “judging” kids I knew as being lazy because they slept in class or bad because they were always lashing out at people. 

    Those overtime hours were hard.  I spent a lot of time in self-reflection.  I can say that I always tried to be nice to everyone, so I didn’t feel like I had to redeem myself in anyway, but it was a pivotal moment in my life. 

    Since that time, I have had others who were more than classmates, they were/are friends, tell me about their history of abuse.  It reminds me that these children who are abused in our community are not unknown to us.  The 872 abused children in Jackson County are part of us. They are “our people”. 

    As April comes to an end I want to challenge each of you to continue to do something…to do one thing a day, a week, a month, or at least a year to help address child abuse. 

    It is a community problem.  We have to work together.  It is the only way to make a change.  I invite you to call me or to contact us through our website or our Facebook Page if you are unsure what your one thing could be.

     

  • The Stories the Numbers Do Not Tell

    By Tammi Pitzen, Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County

    As another year comes to an end, I am reflecting on things I could have done better, missed opportunities and what changes I will be committed to in the New Year.  I am also looking back over all the good work that the CAC staff, Board, Volunteers, Advisory Council and friends of the CAC have done in the last 12 months.

    • Year to date we have served 716 children who were abused and 443 of their non-offending caregivers.
    • 148 of these young victims suffered more than one type of abuse.
    • We provided 295 children with more than 2000 therapy services.
    • Our Family Support Team provided over 2500 support and advocacy services.
    • Our Forensic Interviewing Team provided 570 forensic interviews.
    • Our Medical Department provided 171 medical services.
    • Our prevention program taught 561 adults to recognize and respond to child sexual abuse.

    When you look at just the numbers it tells a story.   We together were able to make an impact on 1159 people who have suffered trauma as result of child abuse.  The year isn’t even over.  We will see children right up until the last hours of the year.  Our team provided over 5000 life changing services.

    What the numbers do not tell you is a whole other story. 

    They do not tell you of a young lady who sought and received confidential advocacy through our co-located Community Works advocate.  They do not tell you of the mom that received comfort and support when her world began to crumble around her as her child disclosed sexual abuse by his dad.  They do not tell you of the young children who witnessed horrific violent abuse of one parent by another who found safety as a result of their visit to our Intake Department.  They do not tell you about the youth who found relief as her CAC Medical Provider told her that her body was fine and assured her she did not have a sexually transmitted infection.  No, the numbers only tell part of the story.

    Nationally there is a debate as to whether child abuse numbers are decreasing. 

    We are not seeing that at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County.  I cannot explain why that is.  I have theories but that is all they are; not based in science or fact.  I do know that we continue to have much work to do.  I do know there are many children in our community that continue to seek safety.

    I read the news.  I watch the news every day.  It gets to be pretty depressing.  There is not a day that goes by that I do not read some tragic story of a child who have been chronically neglected.  I read a story yesterday of two children whose mother left them home locked in a room while she traveled.  She had an adult friend check in on them and feed them once a day.  Toddlers.

    It is heart breaking.  I reflect on that as my stress mounts in providing my son the best Christmas ever.  I reflect how many of our community partners are striving to provide the best holidays for the children we serve by providing giving trees and gifts for those young abuse victims we see every day at the CAC.  This time of year always pulls at my heart strings.  Children should go to bed with images of sugar plums parading through their dreams, not with images of someone they love doing something unimaginable.

    What can you do as one person in the universe? 

    • You can take our free Protect Our Children Child Abuse Prevention Training.  It is free.  Call the CAC or sign up here: http://cacjc.org/services/prevention.  It will be some of the most beneficial hours you spend all year.
    • You can provide financial support to one or all of our service programs.  We are good stewards of your donations and make them work to impact the most children possible. Donate Here
    • You can volunteer at the CAC.  We are in need of volunteers in all departments. More Information Here
    • You can make a report when you see something that makes you suspicious a child is being neglected or abused.  You CAN make a difference. More About Making a Report Here

    You only need to choose how you will do it.

  • One Thing You Can Do That Matters

    One Thing You Can Do That Matters

    By Ginny Sagal, Communication & Outreach Coordinator for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County

    You can’t read a newspaper or turn on a television without hearing about child sexual abuse.

    Do not feel helpless.

    There is one thing you can do that matters in addressing child sexual abuse.  You can take a child abuse prevention training through the Children’s Advocacy Center Protect Our Children Project.  

    When I read and hear these horrible stories, I think how wonderful it would be if all parents and caregivers knew how to recognize and respond to child sexual abuse.

    The Protect Our Children training guides you through 5 steps to protecting children from sexual abuse.

    The 5 Steps are:

    1. Learn the Facts: 1 in 10 children are sexually abused before the age of 18. Over 90% of them know their abuser. There is no more of this stranger danger thing. We need to go beyond that.
    2. Minimize the Opportunity: Decrease the risk of abuse by eliminating one on one situations.
    3. Talk About It: Have age appropriate, open conversations about our bodies, sex and boundaries. I think of the gymnast kids who were abused by their doctor or coach that the families had trusted.
    4. Recognize the signs: Why is this person giving gifts to my child? Why is this person always with the kids when he or she should be with the adults when we are at a party?
    5. React Responsibly: How you reacts matters. Go with your gut feeling!

    The Protect Our Children Project uses the Stewards of Children curriculum, developed by Darkness to Light.

    We believe that when adults take the class they recognized that it is all our responsibility to protect children.

    We believe that adults who take the class decrease the risk of the children in their life being sexually abused.

    The fact is that 99% of participants who take the training would recommend this training to a friend, family member or co-worker. (Study done by the University of Oregon Center for Prevention of Abuse and Neglect.)

    The Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County has partnered with The Ford Family Foundation to offer this training to anyone in Jackson County for FREE.

    Just think, in 2 to 3 short hours you can decrease the risk that a child in your life will be sexually abused. THAT IS BIG!!!

    Do one thing that Matters for the kids and teens in your life. Take a Protect our Children training.

    To register for a training for yourself or your group, business or organization go to: http://cacjc.org/services/prevention  or call Leah Howell, Protect Our Children Training Coordinator, at 541-734-5437 ext. 1013

    Ginny Sagal

  • What Will Be YOUR One Thing?

    By Tammi Pitzen, Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County

    Have you picked up a paper lately and there not be a story about someone coming out and stepping forward to tell about their abuse history?

    Almost daily there is a breaking news story about a child actor or actress being sexually assaulted or harassed.  Some of it a long time ago.  Some of it not so long ago.  I have watched and read in fascination.

    Has it happened?  Have we reached the tipping point?  Have we reached a time where we have created a safe environment for those who have been abused to tell their story?  Or is it those who have been abused demanding safety for those who come behind them and face the same situations…whether it be on a casting couch, in the locker room or at home?

    I think Taylor Swift started a revolution.  Maybe it is coincidental, but I have said in the past that her actions had the potential to change the world.  Maybe they have.

    There are those who would say that everyone coming forward are in it for the money.  Can we think about this logically for a minute?  ACES, the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, tells us that children who experience trauma have a high incidence of substance abuse, eating disorders, suicide, cancer, diabetes, mental health issues, and many other diagnoses that span over their lifetime.  This is research.  This is evidence based.

    Keeping that in mind, let’s look at Corey Haim.  He died young.  He had substance abuse issues throughout his life.  And there was public speculation regarding his sexual abuse as a young person by authority figures in Hollywood.  You could say the same thing regarding Corey Feldman.  Or the Michael Jackson’s accusers–the list is endless.

    Before you discount the validity of any of the people coming forward today with disclosures, educate yourself about what the dynamics of child sexual abuse are.  In the case of those who this happened to as adults, learn about the dynamics of power and control in sexual assault.  Rape is not a crime about sexual pleasure in many cases.  It is about power and control and humiliation.  It is about aggression.

    I am not naive enough to think that every single person who is coming forward and making accusations is telling the complete truth.  But I do know that, statistically speaking, more allegations are true than are not true.

    Why do we work so hard to disprove the accuser and believe the accused?

    I also know that liking someone or admiring someone or idolizing someone does not equal their innocence as an offender.  Who do we think commits these crimes?  They are our friends, our heroes, our family, our bosses, our employees, our ministers, and our teachers…just think about the statistics.  One in ten children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.  70% of all sexual assaults happen to children age 17 and younger.  And 90% to 95% of those abused know their abusers.

    We have some momentum going on at the national level.  How do we keep it going?  How do we get it started on a local level?  How do we continue to create a safe space for child sexual abuse victims to come forward?

    We start by doing one thing.

    Would you join me and do one thing to support an abused child? What will be your one thing?  Will you make a report?  Will you believe a child?  Will you make a donation to support the Children’s Advocacy Center’s efforts to help abused children begin to heal?  Will you volunteer some time at the Children’s Advocacy Center? Will you create a safe space for a child to come forward?

    Will you be courageous and believe them when they do?

    For more information about the CAC’s Do One Thing That Matters campaign and view the full list of things you can do that matter to an abused child, visit: http://cacjc.org/do-one-thing-that-matters-2018/