Preventing child sexual abuse was the topic of a recent campus workshop facilitated by Feather Berkower, a licensed clinical social worker and leader in child sexual abuse prevention since 1985.
91ÖĆƬł§ 40 CU Boulder staff, many of whom work with campus programs that host children on campus for events and other programs, attended the workshop held on Jan. 29. The workshop was one piece of an ongoing effort to strengthen policies and training for employees around preventing abuse.
Definition of child sexual abuse
When any person forces, coerces, bribes, bargains, tricks or manipulates a child into any type of sexual activity. Sexual abuse can occur between young children, a teen and a child, or an adult and child.
Reporting child sexual abuse
If you suspect a child is being abused, mistreated or neglected at home or elsewhere, you must:
- Report that concern to law enforcement immediately.
- Notify the program’s supervisor.
If you have state-law obligations to report suspected child abuse and neglect, you must comply with those state-law requirements as well.
During the three-hour session, Berkower laid out for the audience strategies for keeping children safe from sexual abuse, while also bringing to light some of the signs of sexually abused children and how to recognize patterns of abusers and report them. She also talked about how to distinguish between age-appropriate sexual behavior and harmful behavior and discussed child sexual abuse prevention policies in organizations.
“After 30 years of working on this issue, I don’t know of any other way to stop it, than to talk about it,” Berkower said. “Education is the key here.”
Under the campus child protection policy, an employee who suspects a child participating in a youth program is being abused, mistreated or neglected at home or elsewhere must report that concern to law enforcement immediately and must also notify the program’s supervisor. Some employees may also have state-law obligations to report suspected child abuse and neglect, and they must comply with those state-law requirements as well.
In addition to fulfilling that reporting obligation, CU Boulder employees who have a concern about possible child sexual abuse; are seeking confidential support; would like to report a concern about unwanted sexual behavior, harassment, discriminatory actions, unwanted sexual behavior, abusive relationships and stalking; or learn skills for helping as friends and bystanders, can visit the campus Don't Ignore It site, which is operated by the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance.
Teresa Wroe, director of education and prevention for the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance, stressed the obligation of university employees to report issues such as sexual abuse and misconduct as well as discrimination and harassment.
“As an institution we must continue to increase understanding of these issues in order to prevent harm and respond effectively. We are all responsible for creating a safe campus community,” Wroe said.
Berkower also provided attendees with a checklist/worksheet highlighting “.”
