Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WEST JORDAN — One in seven kids in Utah will experience sexual abuse before the age of 18, with children ages 7 to 13 being the most vulnerable, according to data. Several groups are working to get more kids prepared for situations they could face.
Three Utah nonprofits, including Saprea, the Malouf Foundation and Prevent Child Abuse Utah hosted the Safe Symposium Wednesday to draw public attention to and create solutions around the issue of child sexual abuse.
The Policy Project was also in attendance as part of its Safe Child Project, advocating for the opportunity of all K-6 students in Utah to receive sexual abuse prevention education by strengthening Utah Code 53G-9-207 and securing funding through a public-private partnership.
"This particular summit has really focused on getting leaders in the state to work together around the issue of child sexual abuse," said Chris Yadon, managing director of Saprea, a nonprofit fighting child sexual abuse. "Child sexual abuse is emerging in the public's mind and we as leadership need to come together to help direct the work to end child sexual abuse in the state of Utah."
Elected officials, nonprofit leaders, researchers, university administrators and community members were all brought under one roof through the symposium, with the common goal of developing effective solutions to protect children.
The symposium included brainstorming sessions and keynote speakers who will address child sexual abuse. The Policy Project, a nonprofit organization that promotes solution-based policies in the state, also shared insights gained from its efforts to engage the Utah Legislature and the community in preventing child sexual abuse.
"By influencing policies and securing the necessary resources, we have the potential to transform our communities and ensure a safer environment for our children," said Mary Catherine Perry, director of policy and government affairs for The Policy Project. "Through collaboration and advocacy, we can use legislation as a force for good, making a lasting impact in the lives of Utah children."
Among the keynote speakers was John R. Miller, CEO at JR Miller Enterprises, who spoke about his family's experience seeking justice for his late wife, Valarie Clark Miller.
It's a hidden epidemic. Everyone has heard about childhood sexual abuse but few are really wanting to talk about it because of shame, fear of family reprisal and disbelief.
– John R. Miller
Last December, Miller's family received a letter of apology from the Utah Department of Public Safety for not conducting a proper investigation in 1990 into allegations a Utah Highway Patrol lieutenant raped and threatened Valarie Miller more than 50 years earlier, when she was 13 years old.
Miller said that one of the most prominent issues when it comes to addressing child sexual abuse is simply talking about it.
"It's a difficult subject. It's an emotional subject," he said. "These sort of symposiums are really important because childhood sexual abuse is really an epidemic. It's a hidden epidemic. Everyone has heard about childhood sexual abuse but few are really wanting to talk about it because of shame, fear of family reprisal and disbelief."
From his experiences, he said, survivors of sexual abuse tend to blame themselves until they can talk about it openly.
"It's a phenomenon that pushes things down rather than allowing things to come up and these sort of symposiums help bring it up so that people can deal with it and talk about it and we can become more aware. We can realize there's no shame in being a survivor," Miller said.
Miller and others at the symposium said they'd like to see the Utah Legislature provide more funding to communities to support local advocacy and prevention groups against child sexual abuse and educate about the issues at all levels of the education system.
Joseph Grenny, a New York Times bestselling author known for his books on communication, also spoke at the symposium and echoed Miller's sentiments.
"The central challenge with stopping sexual abuse is it's so hidden," Grenny said. "The behavior that feeds it is happening in homes, it's happening in neighborhoods and communities and the most important thing we have to do if we want to stop it is influence that behavior. Nothing that we do today matters unless behavior changes."
"Every child in our state deserves to be protected," Emily Bell McCormick, founder and president of The Policy Project, said in a statement. "Our strength lies in our ability to rally the community for a cause and create real change via policy solutions. We plan to do with The Safe Child Project what we have done with The Period Project and The Teen Center Project — change not only the law, but the culture to make it better for every Utahn."
Child abuse prevention resources:
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition operates a confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic abuse hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465). Resources are also available online: udvc.org. The statewide child abuse and neglect hotline is 1-855-323-DCFS (3237).
- The Utah Division of Child and Family Services offers counseling, teaches parenting skills and conflict resolution and can connect families with community resources. Its goal is to keep children with their family when it is "possible and safe." Visit dcfs.utah.gov/contact-us/ or call 801-538-4100.
- The Christmas Box House acts as a temporary shelter for children and can provide them with new clothing and shoes, among other services. Call the Salt Lake office at 801-747-2201 or the Ogden office at 801-866-0350.
More help with children
Those who feel stressed out with a child, who need a break or who feel like they need counseling or training can reach out to one of the following agencies:
- The Family Support Center has 15 locations throughout the state and offers a free crisis nursery for parents who have to keep appointments or who are stressed out. They also offer counseling and family mentoring. Call 801-955-9110 or visit familysupportcenter.org/contact.php for more information.
- Prevent Child Abuse Utah provides home visiting in Weber, Davis, and Box Elder counties. Parent Educators provide support, education, and activities for families with young children. Their statewide education team offers diverse trainings on protective factors, digital safety, bullying, and child sex trafficking. They are available for in-person or virtual trainings and offer free online courses for the community at pcautah.org.
- The Office of Home Visiting works with local agencies to provide home visits to pregnant women and young families who would like to know more about being parents. Home visitors are trained and can provide information about breastfeeding, developmental milestones, toilet training, nutrition, mental health, home safety, child development, and much more. Find out more at homevisiting.utah.gov.
- The Safe Haven law allows birth parents in Utah to safely and anonymously give up custody of their newborn child at any hospital in the state, with no legal consequences and no questions asked. The child's mother can drop off the child, or the mother can ask someone else to do it for her. The newborns should be dropped off at hospitals that are open 24 hours a day. Newborns given up in this manner will be cared for by the hospital staff, and the Utah Division of Child and Family Services will find a home for the child.
For more information, visit utahsafehaven.org or call the 24-hour hotline at 866-458-0058.
