Smoke Signals August 1989
Page 11
USDAj NEWSLETTER
IMPORTANT? CLIENT APPOINTMENTS!!!
When we set you an appointment time on the USDA
DISTRIBUTION In the Salem Area, "Please Veepvour
appointments. Just because we put in the Newsletter
that we nre open from 8nm to 5 pm. This is for the '
clients who work and cannot possibly come in hefore
20Ji We make special arrangements for them. If you
miss your appointment and happen to come in the next
day or even later the same day you will be served. If you
miss your appointment and come in the last day usually
Thursday we only stay until our last scheduled appoint
ment. EXAMPLE: Jane Doe had an appointment at 11:30,
lim had an appointment at 11:45 and Harold had one at
(12) noon. If these people came in the day before or in
:he early morning we would not stay until our 12:00 .
loon appointment because they were already served.
Ve schedule your appointments at your convince, we
work late hours and overtime to meet these obligations,
f it was not for you, the people, we would not have a
ob, so we need to work together to have a more '.
ifficient program. "You and your families are impor
:ant to me!" There was a complaint called into central
iffice that we were not at Salem on Thursday afternoon,'
'We did not have a scheduled appointment so we came
lome! If you have any questions about your date and
ime of your appointment, please feel free to call 1-800-)22-1399,
ex. 126. Most of our clients call in if they lose
heir slips or forget the time. Being on time for your 1
ippointment helps us serve everyone in a more timely
nanner. YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER WILL BE
DREATLY APPRECIATED.
rHANK-YOU.
'.
iHARON L. BUTLER
iivv-; 'ft y Hi1'-
JSDA DIRECTOR STLETZ TRIBE u ':-A:x-:'. '
JSDA FOOD DISTRIBUTION DATES: ,g .
' -' " ' ") -V''';
'LEM August 8th, 9th and 10th
.-: ".:'!
JLETZ- August 22 through 31st k:-'.;-:J''
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN
INDIAN COMMUNITIES
BY MARY RING ;':"
In the last several years, child sexual abuse has become
n issue of major concern throughout the, United States,
'he statistics are startling. ' . ' '..
Recent data suggests that, nationally, at .least one out ;
f every three girls, and one of every four boys, are .;
sxually molested by age 18. What's more, the facts '
iow that more than 85 percent of the children indenti-'
ed as sexually abused are abused on a reoccurring
asis, by someone known to them. . , . , ; . .
American Indian communities are not exempt from the
roblem of child sexual abuse. The limited statistics
mailable indicate that American Indian communities
cperience child sexual abuse at approximately the same
ite as do non-Indian communities. ; , ,, .
With the idea that child sexual abuse can best be
'evented through knowledge and awareness, we will :
-ovide answers to questoins often asked about the
ibject. . .:.
TfATIS CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE? .
Non-Contact - Does not involve touching U' , , , !
Manipulative - Touching which appears non-hostile )
and which has been psychologically, rather then force
fully, imposed on the child.
Aggressive Sexual activity in which a child is
physically forced to participate.
Contact Involves Touching
Most children who are sexually abused will, over time,
experience more than one, and sometimes all, types of
the abuse shown above. The abuse will often begin with
non-contact advances and progress though the list to
subject the child to behaviors which involve increasingly
more contact and greater violation..
In the meantime, sexual abuse of Indian children can
be defined as a situation in which an adult "uses" a child
to satisfy a sexual need of an adult.
This abuse can take many forms. It may, but usually
docs not, involve physical force. It may involve various
degrees and kinds of physical contact and touching. Or
it may be totally non-contact in nature. Sexual abuse
, may be forced upon the child through aggression or it
may be imposed through psychological manipulation.
Whatever the case, the experience for the child is
confusing, exploitive, age-inappropriate and frightening.
HOW DOES SEXUAL ABUSE HAPPEN?
Apart from the one-lime sexual encounter with a .
stranger (such experience account for only 5-10 percent
of child sexual abuse), almost all child sexual abuse
develops gradually with the offender slowly grooming, or
preparing, the child. Trust and time arc used by the .
offender.
Once abuse has occurred, the child feels responsibility,
often reasoning that they are guilty because "I partici- 1
pated." The offender uses threats (often subtle) to
silence the child and the child is manipulated into . .. .
secrecy. The offender may say, "If you tell your mother,
you will make her unhappy." "You will cause me to be
, . sent away.if you ,le.U."iiV'pil.5ci in troubje, if you lell,'
The child is torn by wanting to stop what is happening
and not wanting something bad to happen to himself,
the family or offender. . . . .
WHAT CLUES MAY INDICATE THAT A CHILD TS
BEING SEXUALLY ABUSED? , ,
Usually, the child who is sexually abused will not . '
clearly speak out and tell what is happening to himher.
. And the indirect signals which a sexually abused child
gives are often similar or identical to the signs given for
other emotional traumas.
Nonetheless, there are a number of indicators which
should alert us to, at least, the possibility of sexual
abuse. These include: regressive behavior, withdrawal,
abrupt behavior changes, new or excessive phobias,
aggressive behavior, nightmares, depression, self- . '
; destructive behavior, school problems, alienation from ;
family members, and running away. ',' . '
. Special attention. should be given to the possibilty of
' sexual abuse when a child demonstrates sexual knowl
edge beyond what is appropriate for their age, is unwill
ing to dress down for P.E., exhibits bruises or irritations
. around the genital areas, demonstrates sexually seduc
tive behavior, acts out sexually aggessive behavior, is
promiscuous or becomes involved in prostitution. '
If a child specifically makes statements that heshe is
: experiencing sexual abuse, the charge should be immedi
ately and carefully investigated. Professionals who work
! with sexually abused children believe children almost
never lie about being sexually abused.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IF A CHILD REPORTS
BEING SEXUALLY ABUSED? .
It is very hard for a child to "tell" that they are being
: sexually abused. Almost always, the person he first tells
is a person from the regular world around him, a person
who is not professionally experienced in handling sexual
.. abuse cases. A child's first need after disclosing is to
; know that they will be believed, that they will not be
blamed and that they will be protected, The adult to
whom the child has chosen to talk can help most by
remembering these guidelines:
Stay calm. This will help calm the child and assure
himher that it is good that he told and he will be
listened to.
Take the child to a quiet, safe place and allow himher
to talk. Do not probe for details. Statements like "I
know it must be scary for you" or "I'm here to listen"
will encourage the child to talk without feeling pres
sured. Tell the child that their situation is not unique, that this
has happened to other children, and that they are still
likable. Tell the child there are people who will help
and support them.
Don't judge the offender or the offense. Children are
often protective of those who abuse them.
Report the disclosure immediately to tribal or state
officials.
Let the child know what will be happening. Not
knowing is scary. If you don't know what will happen,
ask authorities to explain the process to you so you can
tell the child.
Find someone who can help you with your feelings.
Anyone who is confided in by a child about such a
serious matter will likely need support handling the
feelings that may arise from the situation.
WHAT CAN A COMMUNITY DO TO STOP THE
SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN?
Child sexual abuse is a community problem and,
therefore, a community responsibility.
1. The community must make a public decision and
statement that children have rights, that sexual abuse of
children is not acceptable, and that it will not be toler
ated. 2. The community must publicy admit that child seuial
abuse does exist and can happen to its children. State
ments by respected community members (elders, .,, -.f-t
council members, religious leaders) providing personal
testimony of abuse can be extremely effective in forcing
a community to recognize that, yes, it does happen here.
3. An effort to educate adult and child community
members about sexual abuse must be undertaken.
Posters and educational materials displayed in tribal
buildings, spot radio announcements, and discussions on
council agendas are simple means of informing commu
nity members. A personal safety curriculum in schools
can effectively reach children.
4. The community must assume a monitoring role to
force accountability. The community, or its monitoring
representative, must be aware of what actions profes
sionals should properly take in investigating, prosecuting
and treating child abuse cases and must insist that these
actions be taken. Adequate training for law enforce
ment, social service and court personnel should be
demanded to assure that personnel are properly
equipped to work sensitively and effectively with victims,
families and offenders.
5. Indian communities may want to revitalize old
traditions in dealing with sexual abuse. Banishment and
various healing ceremonies can serve to protect the
community's children and make them stronger while
giving the offender the message that what they have
done will not be tolerated.
Without our children there can be no Tribe. These are
not just words, but words that carry the most important
meaning. As a Tribe we should endeavor to make the
environment, in which our children live, the safest
possible. Grand Ronde is not immune to child sexual
abuse, it happens in every community. However, Grand
Ronde is a community that will not tolerate child sexual
abuse in any form. We would like to get his message to
anyone residing or planning on residing in our commu
nity. By Mary Ring
Social Services