MT. GILEAD, Ohio -
A training course in Morrow County is aiming to teach adults, who work with
children, how to spot the signs of a sexual predator targeting a child before
sexual abuse happens.
Morrow County has one of the highest rates of sexual abuse of children per
capita in Ohio, according to Sue Hanson with HelpLine of Delaware and Morrow
Counties. HelpLine is a local group that works to prevent sexual abuse as well
as provide support to victims.
The course is called "Stewards of Children" and is presented by
Darkness to Light which has teamed up with HelpLine.
Keri White was among those who attended Wednesday night's workshop. White
works with children daily as she helps victims of domestic violence and says
she wanted to be better equipped to help any children who are victims of sexual
abuse.
"I am not really sure how to deal with that or what signs to look for.
How to talk to them about it? What makes them comfortable? What makes them
uncomfortable?" White said.
Instructors presented a video which highlighted several adults who were
sexually abused as children. The video featured men and women, as well as
people of diverse ethnic and social backgrounds, which instructors pointed out
was indicative that sexual abuse impacts everyone.
The workshop highlighted that predators look for children who are in
difficult home or social situations and may be less believable or willing to
speak out. That struck a chord with White who says that could include kids in
domestic violence situations.
"Moms are dealing with so much. They financially have to figure out
what they're going to do now. Have to find a new home, things like that. Maybe
they need a protection order or they're going through a custody battle,"
White said.
Shilo Gall is an instructor and works for HelpLine. Gall says a red flag
that a child is being groomed for sex abuse is when an adult seeks to spend a
lot of one-on-one time with a child in private. She believes if more adults had
gone through the "Stewards of Children" training at Penn State it
would have prevented the Jerry Sandusky sex scandal.
"It would not have happened for as long as it did. I think too many
people would've recognized the signs of an adult spending too much private time
with a child," Gall said.
The workshop is open to everyone. If you are in Delaware or Morrow counties
and wish to have an instructor come to your work place for a presentation
contact Shilo Gall at HelpLine at 740-363-1835.
