Healing a child’s heart that has reported child sexual abuse is complex. Below are the elements we think need to be in place so the child can thrive after reporting.
- Childs family – believe and support the child and have the resources needed to heal as a family.
- Children’s Advocacy Center – support and protect the child and offer counseling and resources.
- Training for the entire justice system – mandatory training for all professionals involved in these cases on the specifics of child sexual abuse, psychological abuse, and trauma informed.
- Resources – professionals should have access to and be required to use the resources to prosecute these unique cases.
- Training Transfer – research shows 10-30-% of training transfers into job performance. Need accountability in place that training transferred or do not be assigned these cases.
- Accountability – public reporting for how these cases are handled. How many reported, how many investigated, how many referred for prosecution, how many accepted for prosecution, how many settled, how many dropped, how many convicted. How many true findings were overturned on appeal.
- National Child Protection Laws – a child’s zip code should not determine their rights and protections when involved in the court process.
- Legal Representation for Children – all children should have legal representation from the minute they walk in to report.
- Legal Defense Fund – for children to be defended at the highest level against any defense team.
- Protections for Reporters – as mandatory reporters are protected, parents should be also. A parent should never fear losing custody because they reported.
- Tech – tech companies using technology to prevent a child from having to go to court or creating civil remedies.
- Mental Health – Educating the medical community and the education system on child sexual abuse, psychological abuse, and trauma informed. Need for a correct diagnosis – Developmental Trauma Disorder.
- Education – educating the entire community on prevention, recognition, reporting, adverse childhood experiences.