March 14, 2008
“It is not enough to stare up at the steps, we must step up the stairs.” – Victor Havel
I dream a dream of peace and safety for children. I dream of a world in which each child is cherished and in which tears occur only because of bumps, bruises, and broken toys. However, I live in a world in which hundreds of children are sexually violated by someone that they love and trust. I live in a world in which children experience the most painful physical injury at the hands of those who should be safe. I work in a world of violence, tears, nightmares, and fear.
I’m working toward a world in which my dreams and my daily reality are merging. We know what will be required to stop child abuse if we are willing to step up the stairs and insist on a safe world for our children—big and small. A recent article confirms what we’ve known all along – that it is possible to halt the spread of child abuse. Five major obstacles (Vieth, 2006) that create a culture that allows child abuse to flourish remain:
- Those who are required to report, do not always report abuse;
- Abuse allegations which are reported are not properly investigated;
- Frontline child protection professionals are not adequately trained to intervene;
- Child abuse is not addressed when children are very young; and
- Children receive an inadequate share of financial resources to address prevention and intervention.
As I’ve long believed, the Center for Child Protection, a children's advocacy center serving Travis County, was founded to surmount each of these obstacles. With continued funding, commitment, and energy, we can eliminate child abuse for the next generation.
Why work so hard now when the elimination is so far away? For me, it’s because I cannot look into the face of an 11-year-old who is pregnant and ask her to be patient. I cannot listen to the cries of an injured toddler without wanting to rage against the forces that allow such violence to exist. And so, I’ll continue to dream and act in the strong belief that I have a responsibility to act…to step up to the challenge. Step up with me.
Sincerely,
Sandra A. Martin
Chief Executive Officer
Source: Vieth, V.I. 2006. “Unto the Third Generation: A Call to End Child Abuse in the United States Within 120 Years.” Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma 12: 5-6.
