The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) is encouraging parents and guardians to learn more about child sexual abuse with a new publication, Protecting Your Child from Sexual Abuse, a collaborative effort with Massachusetts Citizens for Children (MCC).
As reports of child sexual abuse increase at Massachusetts schools and with the Penn State and church pedophile scandals still in memory and making headlines, the free 12-page brochure includes basic information on child sexual abuse, tips to help protect children, potential signs and changes in behavior to look for, what to do if abuse is suspected and resources on reporting, and preventing and treatment of child sexual abuse.
Authored by Jetta Bernier, executive director of MCC, Protecting Your Child from Sexual Abuse is the result of a cooperative effort between the MMS Committee on Violence Intervention and Prevention and MCC, a nonprofit, independent advocacy group for the state’s most vulnerable children. It is one of a series of ten brochures focusing on various aspects of violence and children originated by Robert Sege, M.D., Director of the Division of Family and Child Advocacy at Boston Medical Center and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect.
The series of brochures is part of the Massachusetts Medical Society’s Campaign Against Violence and includes individual descriptions of such topics as dating and street violence, violence in the media, bullying, violence in the home, and myths and facts about violence.
Protecting Your Child from Sexual Abuse and the other brochures in the series are available free via download from the Massachusetts Medical Society website. Printed copies may be ordered individually or in sets from the Medical Society by writing to dph@mms.org or calling 1-800-322-2303, ext. 7373.
