Keeping Them Safe

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A significant part of creating and maintaining safe environments for our children is taking stock of the programs they are part of. In this episode we talk about the screening process, the selection criteria, and the monitoring that is required in order to ensure the safest possible environment for our children. We may not be the ones responsible for conducting these processes, but we can make sure that they are being done as part of our due diligence in examining possible activities and programs for our children. Learn what to ask and what to look for in the programs and activities you consider for your children - and in the ones you are establishing or creating that you want others to join.

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In 1993 the U.S. Study on Child Abuse and Neglect set out a mandate for prevention that focused on safer environments for children to grow up in. We are looking at what is happening with that mandate and how the existing paradigm for prevention efforts has thwarted the fulfillment of that mandate. We also look at how becoming and Alert Adult gives you a chance to forward that mandate and gives all of us a real opportunity to meet the expectations.

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Context is defined as "the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed". In the world of child sexual abuse prevention, the context was determined almost 50 years ago and new efforts to bring forth a new context meet with significant roadblocks. This episode talks about the differences between the existing context, or paradigm, for child sexual abuse prevention and the one the Keeping Them Safe and Because of You operate from and how you can help shift the listening in a way that expands protection for children.

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Children hear what we say. They translate it literally. This episode reminds us that it is important for us to think before we react to incidents, situations, news stories, gossip or even what our children say. We talk about things we might do to ensure that our comments and responses reinforce the message to our children that we are there for them and they can tell us anything.

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Regardless of how vigilant we are, there will be times when predators oursmart us and our children pay the price. In addition, our commitment to being Alert Adults can open the door to another adult who is finally willing to share earlier abuse that has not been disclosed. When that happens, how do we handle it? How do we do the right thing and protect those invoved from further harm? How do we react to hearing this about someone we care about?