Preventing Child Sexual Abuse is a Responsibility We All Share

Originally published in The Berkshire Eagle
By Jennifer Valenzeula

To the editor: The report detailing decades of sexual misconduct at Miss Hall’s School is another painful reminder that we cannot wait until harm happens before acting. (“Miss Hall’s investigation reveals how school culture enabled abuse,” Eagle, Aug. 22.)

Child sexual abuse is preventable. Yet too often, action starts only after abuse occurs. We can change that. By giving schools and youth-serving organizations the tools to recognize early signs of risk and to put safety plans in place, we can stop abuse before it happens.

The commonwealth has invested time and financial resources for the past decade to support efforts in the prevention of child sexual abuse. This funding led to the development of Safekidsthrive.org, a website that brings to life a first-of-its-kind framework for preventing child sexual abuse with free resources, trainings and clear guidance for youth-serving organizations. This was more than our state leaders setting a policy; it is a full commitment to building a shared understanding of safety responsibilities across communities.

Organizations throughout Massachusetts are already using these tools to keep kids in their communities safe, and it’s time for more to step up. Keeping kids safe from sexual abuse is a responsibility we all share. No child should ever endure what these students experienced when we know how to prevent it. We urge every school and youth-serving organization to use these tools to build systems that keep kids safe. Prevention shouldn’t be optional. Anything less puts children at risk.

Jennifer Valenzuela, Boston

The writer is the executive director of The Children’s Trust.