The Children's Advocacy Center of Jackson County

Tag: throw away children

  • Foster Children: The stars in the tornadoes

    Foster Children: The stars in the tornadoes

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

    When I was a caseworker I was often asked why I did what I did. How could I stand to see the pain and sorrow of small children on a daily basis? How could I see the struggling parents trying to do the best they could, even when the best they had to offer was not safe enough?

    When others saw tornadoes, I saw stars. I was not alone. I was not special. There were many who came before me and many who came after me. This blog is not about me but about the global need for tolerance and understanding in a world of tornadoes.

    I never could articulate an answer that seemed to satisfy the question. I can only tell you, if you listen close enough, the answer is in the tornado.

    There is much pain in the life of a foster child. There is pain caused by the abuse. There is pain caused by the fact that the abuse is at the hands of someone who they love and by someone who is supposed to love them. And, if we are all honest, there is pain caused by the system that is trying to keep them safe.

    Today as we begin to move our focus towards the celebration of independence and freedom, I want to challenge you to not forget those who are not free. Those who might not be fighting on the battlefields, but certainly fighting to stay alive…fighting to find peace…fighting to find safety.

    I ask that you find it in your heart to find tolerance. To find compassion. Many of you are saying, “Of course!” “Of course I will give peace to an abused child.” “Of course I will not add to the pain of an abused child by denying compassion, empathy and acceptance.”

    Remember that these children are sometimes in the whirl of the tornado. You will not see the child begging for help (at least not every time).

    They may be the child who is throwing a tantrum. They may be the aggressive child. He may be the child constantly standing outside the principal’s office because he just can’t keep it together. It will not always be the child saying thank you, but might be the child telling you to go jump in the lake — using much more creative language than I choose to use here.

    We cannot begin to understand the life of a foster child unless that is a life we have lived ourselves.

    I am sharing a video. It is part two. I shared part one when it came out. Take the time to hear her story. It could help you to really make a difference in the life of a child. If you are a professional in the field, watch it all.

    Remind yourself of the breathtaking job you have undertaken. Look for the stars.

    Video Link

    Removed ScreenshotClick Here For Video

     

  • What about the throw away child?

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

    Recently I spent time learning about child sex trafficking in the United States. Sex trafficking is the most common form of modern-day slavery.

    Estimates place the number of  domestic and international sex trafficking victims in the millions.

    Most of the victims of sex trafficking are females and children. It is the fastest growing business of organized crime, and the third-largest criminal enterprise in the world.

    It is a complicated issue. It is an issue that we are not, as a country, prepared to recognize as a problem. We rest easier at night thinking that it happens in other countries or third world countries.

    In early June I sat in a plenary session at a national leadership conference in Washington DC and was surprised to learn that Portland Oregon has one of the highest populations of child sex trafficking victims in the country. Right here in my own backyard! I also learned that a very high number of these child sex trafficking victims are coming out of the foster care system as run aways, aging out of the foster care system, or connected to the foster care system in some other way. When I heard that, I have to say, my heart filled with sorrow.

    I learned that many of these young victims are forced to have sex with multiple partners in a day — making upwards of $1500 dollars a day — but go to sleep hungry because they are not allowed to keep any of the money.

    I have spent many hours sitting and listening to how big a problem child sex trafficking is. I have heard these victims referred to as invisible victims. And I have learned that they are invisible only because we refuse to see them.

    These children, many times, are on the streets for years. Missed by no one. Never searched for. For all intents and purposes — thrown away.

    We may refer to them as child prostitutes, but there is no such thing as a child prostitute.

    Children cannot consent legally to any sexual contact. They are not complicit in their own abuse.

    Many groups have begun to tackle this problem, but I am afraid we are not equipped to meet these young victims where they are. We need to adjust our traditional interventions to meet their needs in a better way.

    I am the first to admit that I don’t know what the answer is, but I am hopeful that the answer is out there waiting to be discovered.

    You may be asking what you can do now to help. My answer is simple: Do not close your eyes.

    • If you see a child living on the street — make a report to your local authorities.
    • If a child in your life runs away, please report it to the authorities.
    • Educate yourself on the scope of the problem. Become part of the solution.
    • Do not excuse the adult perpetrators of these crimes by blaming the child or by calling this a victimless crime.
    • Remember this no matter what: A child is a child and an adult is an adult. The adult is always responsible for anything that is between the adult and a child.
    • Let your legislators know that this issue is important and deserves to be part of our work to protect children.
    • If you see or hear of children being abused in their home — report it. Most child sex trafficking victims become run aways because they are running from something and sometimes that something is abuse in their home.

    Do not “throw away” these children. If you do, someone will “rescue” them, and it may not be someone who has pure intentions doing the rescuing.