ABUSE PREVENTION STARTS AT SCHOOL

By the time a girl is 18 years old, she stands a one in four chance of being a victim of child molestation, rape or incest. Recent research indicates that boys may be in as much danger of sexual assault as girls. At least 60 percent of all physical and sexual assault occurs in the home, and about one million children are abused each year in the United States-physically, emotionally and sexually.

In the past, child abuse has been treated after the fact; violators were punished and victims were counseled. But in June 1981, the Texas Department of Human Resources recognized the problem by giving a grant to the Mental Health Association of Dallas for a preventive child-abuse program designed to help children understand all levels of victimization – from peer pressure to rape – before it happens.

In August 1981, Jo Martens began the We Help Ourselves (WHO) program, which is aimed at helping kindergarten through 12th grade students. The program has been available upon request for almost two years; since then Martens and seven volunteers have been serving 17 area school districts, reaching more than 36,000 students.

The student information program is divided into three categories according to age. Through skits, discussions, role playing and videotapes, children learn how to avoid victimization both in and away from the home. Martens says the program is as “value-less” as possible, steering clear of subjects such as parental spanking and, for the older students, sexual activities. The program does, however, teach students about the existence of physical abuse, incest and other types of sexual assault.

Martens hopes to start a program for preschoolers next fall. Other programs in the works are for Spanish-speaking students at the kindergarten through third-grade level.