Final Project milestone

2

Identification of Policy: Child Sexual Abuse

Policy on Child Sexual Abuse:

Issue Statement:

Child sex abuse is a significant social issue in the US and other parts of the world. Over the year, cases of child sex abuse have risen to alarming rates, the increasing incidence of child sex abuse is now a public health crisis. The clock is ticking, our children are the future of this country, and I believe that ending this menace will save the future of this country. Our children need an environment where they can feel safe and explore their potential in life. According to World Health (WHO), child sex abuse refers to any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advance directed against a person's sexuality using coercion by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting including but not limited to home and work" (World Health Organization, 2020). Wekerle & Black (2017) defined child sexual abuse as where an adult or older individual uses a child for sexual stimulation. The primary two types of sexual abuse include touching and non-touching. Touching child sexual abuse entails touching a child’s genitals, putting body parts or objects inside their vagina, anus, or mouth for sexual pleasure. Non-touching involves showing the child pornography, showing the child another person’s genitals, encouraging them to hear or watch a sexual act, and prostituting a child. Statistics indicate that more than 65,000 children are abused every year in the US (Wekerle & Black, 2017). Also, about one in five adult women and one in thirteen men were abused in their childhood (ages 0-17 years). In addition, approximately 120 million girls and young women below 20 years report having experienced some form of forced sexual contact.

These numbers should worry everybody with the responsibility, ability, authority, or position to protect our children. Indeed, there is a need for change, and the public, decision-makers, and social workers must lead the line and advocate for social change and justice for the vulnerable. Suppose nothing urgent is done to address the child sexual abuse concern. In that case, we will have a traumatized society and hopeless children who cannot integrate cognitive, emotional, and sensory information. These children will lose trust in their parents, friends, and community for failing to protect them, guarantee them the safety and better environment to thrive. According to Banton & West (2020), children who experience sexual abuse will likely suffer from adverse long-term mental and physical implications. Such as unplanned pregnancies, depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD), chronic health conditions, substance use, challenging behaviors, violent criminal behavior, adult criminality, and increased risk of suicide. In a blog post shared on the "Darkest to Light" platform in 2017, Kaylas narrated how her family member molested her when she was 12 years old, which had a tremendous impact on her. Kaila confessed that she was ashamed of herself and even contemplated suicide following the sexual abuse ordeal (Darkness to Light, 2017). Most American children experience this ordeal daily. There is a need to advocate for change and safeguard the children from shame and myths of sexual abuse.

The Relationship between Policy and Child Sex Abuse:

Although the federal and local governments have established laws, policies, and other measures to prevent, reduce, and punish child sexual abuse, cases are still rising. Is there anything wrong with our rules? Drury et al. (2019) claim that child sexual abuse laws often focus on punishing the perpetrators and fail to integrate practical preventive measures at community and family levels. This is enough reason for the public, decision-makers, and social workers to advocate for change. They should fight for the children by ensuring appropriate policies and measures are put in place to protect the children and punish the molesters.

Realizing the goal of alleviating child sexual abuse would ensure the communities are safe for children to realize their life potential. Children will have the opportunity to live a better life free from the hurtful and damaging experiences of sexual abuse. The social workers and policymakers will also focus on other essential issues like poverty, education, and healthcare to support the overall children's growth. In addition, addressing this concern will enhance the overall safety and confidence within the community. We should understand that any case of child sexual abuse does not affect the child only but their families and community, including health effects such as stress, anxiety, and healthcare expenses in case of an injury. If policymakers can address these issues, the consequences of criminal behaviors, adult criminality, and substance abuse among survivors of sexual abuse will also be avoided by attaining this goal.

Policy Review:

The selected policy is the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) of 1974. The policy was enacted in 1974 and has been amended several times. CAPTA focuses on preventing child abuse and neglect through funding states that have integrated approaches for dealing with child abuse and neglect (Clay et al., 2019). The state statute dictates this policy. CAPTA effectively addresses the child sexual abuse problem by providing funding to states to support prevention, examination, investigation, prosecution, and treatment activities associated with child abuse and neglect. Some of the significant sections of the CAPTA policy include the definition of child abuse and neglect, who is counted a victim, types of child maltreatment, risk factors among children, and eligibility requirements. Currently, the policy receives overwhelming bi-partisan support in the Congress and House of Representatives. No group opposes it, given the active role in addressing the child sexual abuse problem. Since its enactment, CAPTA has undergone several changes and amendments. For instance, it was amended by the Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2018 in 2019 Clay (et al., 2019). Besides, this policy affects clients I might see in a clinical setting by improving their morale or motivation. It will assure them that the state, through local agencies, has the funds to expedite the investigation and prosecution in their child abuse case.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, child sex abuse is a significant social problem that needs urgent redress. If nothing critical is done to tackle this concern, we will end up with a society of damaged and hopeless children. Achieving the goal of alleviating child sexual abuse will ensure communities are safe for children, social workers and policymakers will focus on other essential issues, and the overall safety and confidence within the community will improve. CAPTA entails the current policy that addresses child sexual abuse. It is an effective policy that provides funding to states to fight child sexual abuse. Nevertheless, there is still a need for more advocacies for change to ensure proper policies, procedures, and regulations are developed to root out child sexual abuse from the US. Social workers, policymakers, and the public must collaborate for the safety of our children.

References:

Banton, O., & West, K. (2020). Gendered perceptions of sexual abuse: investigating the effect of offender, victim and observer gender on the perceived seriousness of child sexual abuse. Journal of child sexual abuse, 29(3), 247-262.

Darkness To Light (2017). Kayla's story. https://www.d2l.org/personalstories/kaylas-story/

Drury, A. J., Elbert, M. J., & DeLisi, M. (2019). Childhood sexual abuse is significantly associated with subsequent sexual offending: new evidence among federal correctional clients. Child abuse & neglect, 95, 104035.

Wekerle, C., & Black, T. (2017). Gendered violence: Advancing evidence-informed research, practice and policy in addressing sex, gender, and child sexual abuse. Child Abuse & Neglect, 66, 166–170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.03.010

World Health Organization, (2020). Child maltreatment. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/child-maltreatment

Clay, A. L., Okoniewski, K. C., & Haskett, M. E. (2019). Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). The encyclopedia of child and adolescent development, 1-10.