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Today we live in a world wrought with scandals every week on child molestation. It’s a becoming the #1 fear amongst parents right up there next to a terrorist attack. Only child abuse, for the most part, is not happening from total strangers; it is from people the children know and trust. That's what makes it so dangerous - we know our country's enemies for the most part, but that nice person who has befriended the family… is the real terror in our lives today. We can no longer pretend that because we live in a nice neighborhood, town, or community it won’t happen; or that it only happens in the city. Sure there are more reports of child abuse in the city but there is also a higher population in all cities. Income, education, religion, profession have nothing to do with a person who is a predator of children; they come in all different masquerades and uniforms. You are probably asking yourself what can I do to help protect children? You need to be informed, educated and active in your community. Promote prevention programs in your schools and churches, talk to your children about "good touch" and "bad touch," teach them the correct words for their anatomy, and always let them know they can tell you anything. What I loved most about my work in prevention was at night when I put my head on my pillow I would ask myself, "What did you do for children today?" and my answer would be… "I did my work for the children's sake." Arline T. Oberst
Ms. Oberst is the Lead Co-Author of "Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul," a Keynote Speaker, & Trainer. Please visit her website at www.ArlineOberst.com
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Lead Co-Author of Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul, Aline Oberst, talks about protecting our children and preventing child abuse In April we celebrate Volunteers and Prevention of Child Abuse Month. For six years I worked for Prevent Child Abuse-NJ as a spokesperson and trainer. When I took the job I wasn't sure if I was the "right fit" with the organization. Most of the other employees had backgrounds in social work and I was coming from the child care profession. But after awhile I realized that not only was I the "right fit" I was the "perfect fit." I always considered myself an advocate for children and what better way to validate that, than educating the population in New Jersey on how to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Through the years of presenting the programs to thousands of people I could almost always recognize the people in my audience who had been victims themselves as children. There was something in their demeanor that spoke to me - some instinct I felt when they asked me, "Can I talk to you later after the program?" I knew what they wanted to tell me. Nine times out of ten I was correct. When I was training volunteers I made a point of telling them that this was not a platform for their therapy if they were survivors of abuse. I would share with them my own story of attempted molestation by my girlfriend's father. I kept my story short, focusing on how my mom reacted when I told her; she said, "Don't you worry about anything I will take care of it - no one will hurt you." To a 10-year old young girl those words were soothing to my ear. I didn't have to worry - my mom would protect me. And isn't that what parenting is all about? |
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