Residents take to streets to fight child abuse
Posted Courtesy of the Dayton Daily News (www.daytondailynews.com/)
Published on 6/24/06
BY JOANNNE HUIST SMITH
Of the Dayton Daily News
Twin Towers residents will be walking the streets today fighting what they call a hidden epidemic in their neighborhood — child abuse.
Volunteers became active after learning of a high incidence of child sexual abuse in the area served by East End Community Services, said Leah Werner, community organizer for the social service agency.
The report from Montgomery County Children Services Board indicated that as many as 15 percent of all cases of suspected child sexual abuse in the county from 2002 to 2004 involved families whose mother lived in the 45410 — which includes Twin Towers — or 45403 ZIP codes.
Volunteers plan to hand out information about child abuse to every home in Twin Towers, about 1,500 households. Additional volunteers are welcome. The group will begin at 10 a.m. at the East End Community Center, 624 Xenia Ave.
"When we found this was a hidden problem, people were outraged," Werner said.
In April, 15 Twin Towers residents completed the Stewards of Children training from the Darkness to Light organization, a national non-profit. It educates adults to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child abuse.
"For some, the video clips of people recounting tales of child abuse really hit home," she said.
Residents will distribute leaflets, Seven Steps to Protecting Our Children: A Guide for Responsible Adults, published by Darkness to Light.
Recognizing child abuse
Physical signs of sexual abuse are not common, although redness, rashes or swelling in the genital area and urinary tract infections should be carefully investigated.
Emotional or behavioral signals are more common.
In some children, there are no signs.
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