Putting Risk in Perspective, We Would Like to Speak with You, Tree House Snack Cabinet Dedicated to Carla Benway, The Tree House Tour de Cookie Date is set for 2017
We noticed an interesting social media phenomenon last month. On June 22nd we shared an article about an unaccompanied minor being groped on an airline flight. That Facebook post was widely shared by our page followers and eventually reached nearly 3,000 people. Five days later we shared an article about alocal elementary school teacher arrested for sexual offenses. That Facebook post reached just over 112 people. In all honesty, we hesitated to post about the airline flight because we were afraid people would jump on fears related to "stranger danger." That's exactly what happened. Now we want to put these risks into perspective for you.
An estimated 60% of perpetrators of sexual abuse are known to the child but are not family members, e.g., family friends, babysitters, child care providers, neighbors.
About 30% of perpetrators of child sexual abuse are family members.
Only about 10% of perpetrators of child sexual abuse are strangers to the child.
Not all perpetrators are adults—an estimated 23% of reported cases of child sexual abuse are perpetrated by individuals under the age of 18.
How can you help protect your child from "trusted" people who are actually predators? Here are a few suggestions:
From Darkness to Light: Minimize opportunity- If you eliminate or reduce isolated, one-on-one situations between children and adults, and children and other youth, you'll dramatically reduce the risk of sexual abuse.
From Parenting: When we force a toddler to hug or kiss someone when he does not want to (even if it's Grandma), we are telling the child that he is not in control over who touches his body. We are also telling the child that he should not say no an adult who may want to touch him in sexual ways.
So, as you read the news, try to keep in mind that while abuse by a stranger makes a compelling headline, it is only a small piece of the story.
We Would Like To Speak with You!
Contact us if you would like our staff to speak to your school, organization, or business about child abuse: The signs, how to prevent it, how to speak with children about it, and the free services offered by The Tree House.
Tree House Snack Cabinet Dedicated to Carla Benway
Late last month we dedicated our snack cabinet to Carla Benway, who recently passed away. Carla was a devoted supporter of children and a devoted supporter of The Tree House. Her husband, Pastor Dave, and the Montgomery Village Kiwanis Club have promised to make sure this cabinet, now named "Carla's Cupboard," always has snacks for the children who come to The Tree House. We are incredibly grateful to have such kind friends and we will always remember Carla.
Time to mark your calendars!
We are delighted to announce that
The Tree House Tour de Cookie will be on Saturday, May 6, 2017
at Johns Hopkins University Montgomery County Campus.
We want to thank JHU
for providing a home for our event for the 3rd year in a row.
We hope to see you all there!
More information to follow, including when registration opens up.
Pass it on...
Click on the bike to vicariously ride with Andrew Whipp ofGreen Buzz Agency.
Help us spread the word about The Tree House. Forward this newsletter to a few friends!
Support The Tree House
You can help us provide mental health, medical, victim advocacy and other services to abused and neglected children in Montgomery County. All it takes is a small donation.
