Small Town News

Child abuse forum focuses on support, awareness, services and a challenge

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"The hits just keep on coming."

That is the brief assessment former Cape Henlopen School District psychologist Dave Jefferson gave to a group of about 50 area residents who attended a community forum Tuesday night at Cape Henlopen High School.

"When people are responding to environmental traumas - such as natural disasters - their first feelings are usually fear because of the unpredictability of what's going on," said Jefferson, now working part time for the district. "But when the trauma is manmade - such as in the case of the charges against Dr. Bradley, the recent murder of a Cape Henlopen High School student, and now the rape charges against Coach Ott - the reaction as a group leans toward anger, disbelief and denial

"Some people verbalize those reactions; others strike out at others and still others turn to drugs and alcohol as self-medication," said Jefferson. "My first reaction was one of disbelief, that the pillars of trust weren't there when they needed to be -that all that trust built up over years was shattered in a moment."

Cape Henlopen High School Principal John Yore organized the community meeting to reach out to students, parents, staff and community members searching for answers, direction and a sense of how the high school is responding. A number of counselors, psychologists and well-ness-associated professionals spoke.

John Myers, chairman of the school's counseling services, said his offices provide a safe haven in the schooL "Sometimes they just need to come to our offices and vent," said Myers. "I had a student who came in on Monday and she talked for an hour. When she was finished she said Thanks, I needed that,' and went back to her classes."

Yore said his intent with the meeting was to "help those crying out to us but who have not yet been heard. Trust bonds are being broken all around us."

Yore said he told students at the high school: "Support one another through this very difficult time. It's hard to repair broken trust, if it can ever be repaired at all. The Ott family needs support and respect for privacy."

Yore said Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden stopped by the school Monday, April 12. "He came by, unannounced, to offer his support for us. He also reminded us that the Crisis and Support Center, set up at Fourth Street and Savannah Road in Lewes in the wake of the child sex abuse charges against pediatrician Dr. Earl Bradley, is available to those needing help."

Catherine Rose, a licensed professional counselor of mental health with Delaware Guidance Services, challenged the crowd to be part of an effort to end child abuse. She noted child abuse is widespread across the country and estimated, based on national statistics, that 270 out of Cape Henlopen High School's 1,300 students have been or will be victims of sexual abuse.

"We need to give power to the victims," said Rose. "They need to know that this community will not shy away from reports of abuse; this community will not cower with yet another report of victimization, but rather embrace victims with all the support we can bring. Not only has this community been witness to these crimes, but we have witnessed acts of courage. Dialing 911 when you hear your sister's distress is an act of courage. Every parent or grandparent or guardian who brought their children's pictures to the office set up by the attorney general in Lewes, to risk a match with evidence from the Bradley case, demonstrates courage.

"Victims need to know that they are not alone, that they are not responsible for the abuse they endure, that help is available."

Rose ended with a challenge: "Rather than being known as the community where that awful pedophile doctor lived, why not be known as the community that gave an all-out effort to say: No more abusing our children"

Delaware Guidance Services: 645-S338ordeiawaregiiidance.org National Child Traumatic Stress Network: NCTSN.org

"VICTIMS NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE, THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ABUSE THEY ENDURE, THAT HELP IS AVAILABLE."

- CATHERINE ROSE, COUNSELOR





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