Tag Archives: Children

What You Need to Know About Sexual Assault

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What is sexual assault and how often does it occur?  Sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit CONSENT of the recipient.  A sexual assault occurs every 107 seconds, which is less than 2 minutes; these numbers are based on people that have chosen to report their sexual assault.  Sexual assault occurs right here in Hunt County just like it does in larger counties.  The crime of sexual assault is a highly under-reported crime based on the known statistics of 1 in 5 individuals will be sexually assaulted between the ages of 18-24 years old, therefore, there are many unreported cases that are still unknown. 

Based on statistics from RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) there are approximately 207,000 cases of sexual assault that occurs each year.  Approximately 54% of those victims will choose not to report their assault.  Approximately 2/3 of sexual assault cases are committed by a friend or acquaintance of the victim and there is a small percentage that is a stranger rape.  Approximately 97% of rapists will not spend a single day in jail.  According to the statistics from RAINN the ages of the victims fall where 80% are under the age of 30 and about 44% are under the age of 18 years old.  Statistics of sexual assault on college campuses from Sarah Lawrence College state that there are about 35 incidents of sexual assault for every 1000 students that are reported. 

How can sexual assault happen?  About 57% of assaults have happened while on dates.  Approximately 55% of women who are assaulted admitted to having a drink, taking drugs, or being drugged before the assault.  The number one drug used to commit sexual assault is alcohol. However, just because a victim may have had alcohol will not and should negate from them reporting an assault and it being taken seriously.   Sexual assault occurs within every demographic.  It is not dependent on one’s age, ethnicity, gender, or social class. More than half of all rapes have occurred within a mile of the survivor’s home. 

The dynamics of sexual assault may include an attempt to control, manipulate, or demean another person using physical, emotional, spiritual, psychological or sexual tactics.  Most often an intimate partner manipulates the victim by threat, force, or coercion, to do something the victim does not want to do, without any concern for the rights or well-being of the victim.  Sexual assault/rape is often about Power and Control. 

Stay safe by going places in groups (including the bathroom), do not assume that because someone is “nice” that they will not cause you harm (be cautious), be careful on social media (do not talk to or meet in person strangers from the online world), and do not take an opened drink from anyone or leave your drink unattended (even if it is a soft drink or tea.)

If you have been sexually assaulted and need help, you do NOT have to suffer in silence, please contact our 24/7 365 day Hotline at:  903-454-9999.

By:  Amy Ramsey / Director of Community Outreach & Education

Hunt County Children’s Advocacy Center / Crisis Center of Northeast Texas

I Didn’t Mean to Abuse My Child

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Lorene was a twenty-seven year old widow and mother of two, her children are nine and three. Their world is shattered with the sudden and untimely death of her husband and the children, one who will not have any memories of him now wander into a season of unintended consequences…

The CDC defines child abuse and neglect as “any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child.”

Lorene like so many others can be side swiped by life and left feeling like their trying to find a firm footing while walking and a water bed, there is no firm place to stand and every action causes an unknown and sometimes unwanted reaction. They long for just a modicum of what they once knew as normal. But those moments can be far apart and often too short.

The work of two parents had become doubled upon one leading to long days and lonely nights. She worked so hard to fill the many voids left in her  heart, mind, and life. Her families needs called for courage, and she answered! Her personal needs called also, this was a more difficult call, one that meant choices that would affect both hers and her children’s lives. The medication she entrusted to keep her on an emotional even-keel would be joined by something to help her both begin and end her day. Her once social drinking became a greater and great necessity often conflicting with her medications. Her social life would become a long list of night spots with an even longer list of men who past through their lives. 

At its peak, this led to her placing the youngest in the care of family members for extended periods of time while her oldest was called upon to be a somewhat “Faux” adult, be included in conversations and circumstances that were far beyond him. The neglect of a child isn’t always a willful intended choice, more often, it is a misguided unintentional pursuit of needs, wants, or addictions. Lorene’s neglect of her children began slowly but grew steadily in the shadow of her better judgment. When family members would address it with her she was left with only two choices repent and change her ways, or justify her choices which usually lead to arguments and discord.

Becoming a parent doesn’t mean we lose ourselves and become immune to the struggles of life and effects they may cause. However, we must always remember that our responsibility is to protect, provide, and guide for our children, we are forming a future adult and the early years are important. Trust me, I know first hand because I’m Lorene’s son. I truly love my Mom, and as a Father I can appreciate the challenges she faced. Her neglect wasn’t intentional, but they were choices that left life-long imprints on me. Parents, please make good choices.

Rev. Jimmy Vaughn

Authentic Life Fellowship

DrugFree Greenville Public Education Committee

Child Abuse Awareness

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Child physical and sexual abuse is alarmingly prevalent in all communities. In Hunt County, approximately every 15 hours there is a confirmed case of child abuse.  These crimes have a lifelong effect on children and what type of adults they will become.  Many of us would like to believe that we would be able to recognize if abuse was happening to our own children.  Even more of us believe that we would know who the perpetrator is.  Unfortunately, upwards of 90% of all perpetrators is someone the child and the family knows, loves, and trusts; less than 1% of perpetrators are strangers.

            National research and statistics show that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18 years of age. 1 in 10 children will tell.  The statistics in Hunt County line up with those nationwide numbers as well.  It is in our backyard!  Perpetrators will groom the child and those around them to ensure the child will not tell and the perpetrator is not suspected.  Grooming is typically done in a very subtle way by using words, gifts, and coercion, but could also be direct by using threats to the child.

            This subject is difficult to discuss or believe that it exists to the level that it does.  It is important for every adult to know the signs and if you suspect something, report it.  Too many people do not want to make a report because they are afraid to get involved.  It is every adults mandated duty, by law, to report to law enforcement or CPS any suspicion they may have about physical or sexual abuse relating to a child.  You may be the person that saves that child’s life, childhood, etc.  You do not have to have evidence, just a reasonable suspicion to make a report without malice.

 Signs of child physical or sexual abuse may include:  unexplained injuries, changes in behavior, returning to earlier behaviors (such as thumb sucking or bed wetting), fear of going home, changes in eating or sleeping habits, changes in school performance and attendance, lack of personal care or hygiene, risk-taking behaviors, and inappropriate sexual behaviors.  If a child tells you something has happened to them, please follow these steps:  listen to and tell them you believe them, remain calm, do NOT ask an abundance of questions, do NOT panic, and do NOT press the child to talk; contact law enforcement and call the Texas Child Abuse Hotline at 800-252-5400 as soon as possible.

            Children are counting on you to stand up for them and report your suspicions or any specific information a child tells you about child abuse.  For more information you can contact Amy Ramsey at 903-454-9999.

Amy Ramsey/Director of Community Outreach & Education

Hunt County Children’s Advocacy Center/Crisis Center of Northeast Texas

DrugFree Greenville Public Education Committee

Know Your Facts

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Drug and alcohol abuse is a serious issue that affects millions of people worldwide. It is important to be aware of the facts surrounding these substances in order to make an informed decision about their use. What better time to provide our community with facts concerning drug and alcohol abuse than National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, Monday, March 18, to Sunday, March 24, 2024? 

One of the most alarming facts about drugs and alcohol is their impact on physical health. Substance abuse can lead to a wide range of health problems, including liver damage, heart disease, and mental health disorders. Drugs and alcohol can impair judgment, leading to risky behaviors such as driving under the influence or engaging in unsafe sexual practices. They can also have long-term effects on the brain, causing memory loss, cognitive impairment, and addiction. Furthermore, experimenting with drugs and alcohol at a young age can hinder proper brain development and increase the likelihood of developing substance abuse disorders later in life. Unfortunately, for most youth today, health problems that occur years down the road is not preventative measure that will deter youth from experimenting. 

Experimenting with drugs today is vastly different from decades past. In the 1960s and 70s, drug experimentation was often seen as a rebellious act against societal norms, with substances like LSD and marijuana being popular choices. Today, however, drug experimentation is more dangerous than ever due to the rise of synthetic drugs like fentanyl and bath salts. Fentanyl and bath salts are often much more potent and unpredictable than their natural counterparts, leading to a higher risk of overdose and death, leaving families and communities devastated.  Our community takes an especially hard hit because Texas is a national distribution center for illicit drugs. Drug traffickers commonly smuggle illicit drugs into and through the state. Drug traffickers generally use Interstates 10, 20, 25, 30, and 35, as well as U.S. Highways 59, 77, 83, and 281 as primary routes for transporting drugs throughout Texas from Mexico. 

We must work together to prevent access to illegal drugs by children. It is crucial to educate ourselves about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse to protect ourselves and educate our youth about the risks and consequences of drug use.  Drug Free Greenville is a vital program aimed at combating substance abuse and addiction in our community by providing education, prevention, and treatment resources.  This program seeks to create a safer and healthier environment for all residents of Greenville. One of the key components of the Drug Free Greenville programs is its focus on early intervention and educating young people about the dangers of drug use and providing them with alternative coping mechanisms, so we can prevent substance abuse before it starts. Additionally, the program offers support by connecting individuals to resources such as counseling, support groups, and rehabilitation services. 

Ultimately, it is up to each individual to live a healthy and sober life but that decision is easier when you know the facts.

Karla Meeks

Drug Free Greenville Public Education Committee

Marketing Manager of the Mental Health Clinic of Greenville

Teach Kids to Love Learning

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Often expressed is the concern that young people are not interested in learning because they are overly occupied on their cell phones and not reading books. However, young people today have never known life without a cell phone device. They use it for everything from scheduling to homework. Kids can learn to love learning while using their smartphones by taking advantage of its capabilities. Here are five suggestions.

Start young, or as soon as possible. Children develop perspectives and adopt habits most easily from a young age. Learning is simply acquiring knowledge. So, looking up story times for the library or reading about a new business in town are learning activities. Although your goal for the child may be more in-depth or broader, simple learning begins with the skills to navigate everyday life. Start leading kids to look for information on their own. Use subjects that the child is interested in to show them how they can find more information. Suggest questions that pique their curiosity such as whether or not dinosaurs had feathers and what makes one car faster than the other. Older kids thinking about careers might want to know how much money different jobs pay. Teenagers who are interested in music might want to know how music is produced professionally.

Set an example. Children imitate what they see. Let them see you learning new things. Looking for a job, setting up a budget, or planning a trip, are all endeavors that requiring learning. Show them what you are learning, why you are learning it, and how you look for information. But keep the sessions appropriately shorter, depending on their age, and do not be disappointed if they seem disinterested. The point is to make them aware of the learning process as a natural part of life and living.

Help kids have good experiences or benefit from learning. For example, if you plan on going out to eat, let the kids research restaurants. Ask them to look up distances, menus, and prices and give their opinion on the best option. If they are asking for a pet, let them to look up the costs of caring for one. Help the kids feel comfortable at places of learning. Within 15 miles of Greenville are 2 colleges and a university which offer events such as outdoor movie nights, festivals, and cultural events at low-cost or free to the public. Use these opportunities to become familiar with what is offered there.

Help identify credible sources. If you are not sure where to start, ask at the local school or public library. Older children who are politically inclined can be helped to find credible sources from different points of view and that prepares them participate in educated discussions. Instead of struggling with your kids to limit their cell phone use, redirect their existing incentive by encouraging them to expand the potential for acquiring information and knowledge that equips them to reach their goals.

Marifrances Casey