County Offers Info on Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children

MEDIA– and the Office of Children and Youth Services presented valuable information regarding the prevention of sexual abuse of children at its public meeting on Nov. 22.

County Council emphasized that Children and Youth Services (CYS) and its partners in the community are committed to preventing abuse, protecting and treating those who are abused, and prosecuting those who commit abuse.

County Councilman Tom McGarrigle, council’s liaison to the County’s Human Services Department, said it’s important that all residents know there are various hotlines they can call, and organizations they can report abuse to.

McGarrigle said one of the county’s partners, Family Support Line, has a mission to "prevent, treat and train for the trauma of child sexual abuse."

Family Support Line, based in Media, recently released an informational newsletter detailing behaviors to watch out for in potential offenders plus tips and guidelines for talking to children about inappropriate contact.

"As the Family Support Line newsletter states, we, as adults, all have a part to play here," McGarrigle said. "This is about watching for behaviors of adults around children. This is about speaking up and stepping in. This is about listening to our children, and teaching safety rules."

Deidre Gordon, CYS administrator, said people can call the Pennsylvania State Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-932-0313 or their local police if they suspect sexual abuse of a child.

CYS operates a Children and Youth Sexual Abuse Center at 100 W. Sixth St., Media. The phone number is 610-891-5258. The agency investigates reports of sexual abuse of children in which the alleged perpetrator is a household member or caregiver.

CYS also investigates referrals of other types of abuse of children, such as physical abuse and neglect, and provides a range of services to maltreated children and their families. Referrals can be made to the Upper Darby office of CYS at 610-713-2000 or the Chester office at 610-447-1000.

"Most of us cannot imagine what would make an adult abuse a child, but the truth is there are people who are committing acts that harm children," Gordon said. "The point is, if you suspect abuse, make that phone call."

Family Support Line Offers Educational Program in Media

Family Support Line will offer an educational program, "Talking to Your Child About Personal Safety," from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 7 at . The program is free and open to anyone in the community.

The program will include and educate on topics like, characteristics and effects of child sexual abuse, how to talk to children about personal safety and touch, how to recognize physical and behavioral signs of abuse, how to recognize characteristics of offenders, how to confront adults about inappropriate behaviors, how to respond to a disclosure and how to report abuse and how to support an abused child.

Mary Hove, M.S., education and training director for Family Support Line, will lead the program. The program will include a presentation, video and take-away information for all attendees, who will also have the opportunity to ask questions.

For more than 20 years, Family Support Line has worked to keep children and families safe from the harm of child sexual abuse and other family trauma through comprehensive prevention education programs and to promote healing through specialized treatment services.

To register for the program, call 610-891-5275. For more information about Family Support Line, visit www.familysupportline.org. If you are interested in scheduling an educational progam, contact Hove at 610-891-5277 or mary@familysupportline.org.