Child abuse initiatives taking hold

Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden remains focused on making sure our children and grandchildren are better protected than they have been in the past. In a meeting last week, Biden referred obliquely to the Bradley case in Lewes and the Sandusky case at Penn State. (Because the Bradley case is still in litigation, he does not discuss it directly.)

“We have a moment in time right now to focus the eyes of the nation on a problem endemic in our society,” he said.

Biden cited oft-repeated and sobering statistics.“Studies show that one out of four girls and one out of six boys will be abused by the time they are 18,” he said.

“And, it's estimated that only one out of 10 victims ever report abuse.”

But, said Biden, there is positive movement in terms of reporting. “There is a significant uptick in the phone calls coming in with reports of abuse.”

He said that is resulting from increased attention to the child sex abuse issue and improved training initiatives.

“All of that emboldens and empowers others to speak up,” he said.

The Stewards of Children initiative in the past 12 months has educated 4,000 Delawareans about their legal and moral obligation, said Biden, to report abuse or neglect of children. The goal is to take that training to 35,000 Delawareans over five years.

The Stewards of Children program is also reaching out to 25,000 middle schoolers to help them protect themselves.

“We're trying to get across the message that one-on-one settings with adults and children are not the best thing,” said Biden, “even when the adult is trusted or in a position of authority. Eyes on is not a bad thing. Abusers too often are people in positions of trust and confidence, often with familial bonds. This is tough, and it's uncomfortable, but it's real. Institutions need to know this too, to protect the child and the entity.”

These problems are serious, and it's good to see serious initiatives to address them.

The child abuse line in Delaware is 1-800-292-9582.