The Boy Scouts of America are under heavy fire after files were released showing decades of abuse being covered up. So what can you do to protect your kids?
The abuse that we're talking about happened between 1965 and 1985 and while the Boy Scouts have changed their policies to prevent it, child advocates say parents always need to be aware.
Thursday, the Boy Scouts of America were ordered by the high court in Oregon to release 15,000 pages of what the organization called “Perversion Files”, which contain the names of more than 1,200 scout leaders and volunteers accused of child sex abuse between 1965 and 1985.
Kristen Houser with the PA Coalition Against Rape says parents always need to look for the signs that a child is being groomed or abused.
Signs could include the child no longer wanting to be around a certain adult, having health issues that could be caused by anxiety, or changes in mood. Parents also need to look for adults that want to always spend time with a certain child or are constantly buying them things.
“If you as another adult are watching this and you see something that makes the hair on the back of your necks stand up, giving you the heebie-jeebies, pay attention to that instead of giving the benefit of the doubt based on, I know this person and I don’t think anyone I know would do this,” warned PCAR’s Kristen Houser.
If you are someone you know may be a victim of sexual abuse, PCAR recommends that you call your local crisis center or hotline for help.
The abuse that we're talking about happened between 1965 and 1985 and while the Boy Scouts have changed their policies to prevent it, child advocates say parents always need to be aware.
Thursday, the Boy Scouts of America were ordered by the high court in Oregon to release 15,000 pages of what the organization called “Perversion Files”, which contain the names of more than 1,200 scout leaders and volunteers accused of child sex abuse between 1965 and 1985.
Kristen Houser with the PA Coalition Against Rape says parents always need to look for the signs that a child is being groomed or abused.
Signs could include the child no longer wanting to be around a certain adult, having health issues that could be caused by anxiety, or changes in mood. Parents also need to look for adults that want to always spend time with a certain child or are constantly buying them things.
“If you as another adult are watching this and you see something that makes the hair on the back of your necks stand up, giving you the heebie-jeebies, pay attention to that instead of giving the benefit of the doubt based on, I know this person and I don’t think anyone I know would do this,” warned PCAR’s Kristen Houser.
If you are someone you know may be a victim of sexual abuse, PCAR recommends that you call your local crisis center or hotline for help.