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The newly established state Task Force for the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children held its first meeting this month. Greene County leads the state of Missouri in the highest rates of hotline calls for suspected child abuse and neglect. KSMU’s Theresa Bettmann spoke with members of the task force to learn more about its mission.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 10 percent of children are sexually abused across the United States each year. Anyone working with sexually abused children knows the long-term effects can be devastating. Joy Oesterly is the executive director of Missouri Kids First, which is the presiding office over this new task force. She says there are two critical steps to tackling sexual abuse. First to admit it happens, and second to talk about it.
“Typically, we think of child sexual abuse as a taboo [subject] that we don’t talk about. Many times, folks will turn away when you talk about child sexual abuse. But we know that 1 in 4 girls, and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused by the time they turn 18,” Oesterly says.
Oesterly says that this task force was created by Missouri lawmakers during the 2011 legislative session. She says the members of the task force are charged with learning all they can about child sexual abuse in Missouri. They are authorized to make policy recommendations to agencies and organizations based upon their findings.
“There are a couple of things that set this apart from other task forces or groups that have looked at child abuse in the past. This task force is specifically looking at child sexual abuse. The other thing that sets it apart, is that the group is tasked with looking at prevention,” Oesterly says.
Oesterly says that although it is early in the process, she feels that the success of the mission will be reflected in the number of recommendations that will be adopted.
There are currently 15 members serving on the task force, including Senator Bob Dixon from Springfield. He says there are several parties involved and he feels it is a well-balanced group providing diverse experience.
“There are two members from the Senate and two members from the House, one from each party, as well as a number of folks who are involved in dealing with the prevention of child abuse, people who have been involved in treatment, and also prosecution of perpetrators,” says Dixon.
Dixon says that all of the task force meetings and hearings are open to the public, and will be held throughout the state.
“I would encourage citizens to get involved. I would encourage them to follow the proceedings, to speak up, and voice their thoughts and opinions. There are many people I’ve found throughout the community, that have a high level of expertise with regard to prevention and treatment. And I think those two things go hand-in-hand,” Dixon says.
Dixon says the task force is tentatively considering scheduling its first hearing in Springfield in April, which is Child Abuse Awareness month. He says the best way for people to learn about the task force, including meeting schedules, is to contact one of its members. You can find a link to more information below. For KSMU News, I’m Theresa Bettmann.
Click here for a list of task force members.
Theresa received her undergraduate degree in sociology at MSU, and will begin graduate studies in MSU's Master of Social Work program this fall. She enjoys writing, drawing, reading, music...and working at KSMU.
