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Forum will aim to tackle child abuse

By Jennifer Harr heraldstandard.Com 3 min read

A public forum scheduled for Nov. 30 at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, will be geared toward helping people recognize the the signs of child abuse, and offer tools to help a child who is being abused.

Robert M. Ruggieri, president of the Human Development and Family Studies Association, said the sex abuse allegations levied against former Penn State football defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky have given way to a “teachable moment” where people may be more apt to respond to information about the physical and sexual abuse of children.

The panel discussion will include representatives from various Fayette County organizations, including the Crime Victims’ Center, Children and Youth Services, the district attorney’s office and state police. Additionally, a representative from A Child’s Place at Mercy, a state representative and professors from Penn State will take part in the discussion from 6 to 8 p.m. in Swimmer Hall in the Williams Building.

Mark O’Keefe, executive editor of HeraldStandard.com, will be the moderator of the discussion.

“We want to educate the community and the students about child abuse and child sexual abuse — what signs to look for, what to do if you think you see something, who to call,” Ruggieri said. “We want to get that information out there and make people more aware. These things, unfortunately, happen daily, everywhere.”

Jacquie Fritts, executive director of the Crime Victims’ Center, said there is an ongoing need for education in hopes that it will lead to the prevention of child abuse and sexual assault.

“If you see something that doesn’t feel right, you need to talk to someone,” Fritts said. “We have to believe our kids. We need to start listening, and believing what they tell us.”

She said that people sometimes find it difficult to believe that someone could harm a child, but said that children normally don’t lie about being abused. Particularly with sexual assault, Fritts said there can be no physical signs of abuse.

“We need to get our hands off of our eyes, and start opening them up to make sure are kids are safe across the board,” she said, offering kudos to Penn State for hosting the educational forum. “The only way we’re going to solve the problem is to tell people what to do. I think we could stop a lot of abuse in our county if we open our eyes. We can’t turn our heads anymore.”

Fritts said there is no way to tell if someone is an abuser based on their job or how they look.

“People in power could be child abusers or child sexual abusers just as easy as someone who has nothing. We’re used to perpetrators being these evil-looking things, and that’s just not the case. It could be anyone’s face,” she said.

“In one way, shape or form this effects everybody,” Ruggieri said. “Even if you don’t think it effects you, it’s still not a bad thing to make sure you understand. Having more knowledge is never a bad thing.”

While the forum may have been prompted by Sandusky’s arrest — and the intense attention it’s received — Ruggieri was clear that topic isn’t part of the discussion.

“This will be strictly education about what to do, who to call, and what is child abuse,” he said, noting that the arrest has brought forth a way to help people learn. “When a teachable moment presents itself, you have to run with it and try to help.”

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