Is Montreal the First Canadian City to Organize Against Child Sex Abuse?

The fight against child sexual abuse

by BARBARA VICTOR, SUSAN KLING, CHAYA HARRISON, SPECIAL TO MONTREAL GAZETTE

Here in Montreal, social service agencies are experiencing an increase in the numbers of adult clients disclosing histories of child sexual abuse. MARCELO RUIZ / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

We are all familiar with high-profile incidents of child sexual abuse that have occurred in sports organizations, educational institutions and religious communities around the world. In most of the reported cases, institutions failed to act, resulting in shattered lives with devastating consequences.

Here in Montreal, social service agencies are experiencing an increase in the numbers of adult clients disclosing histories of child sexual abuse. This upsurge has resulted in the development of new community initiatives, with the resolve to do better for survivors, their families and the Montreal community as a whole.

As social service professionals, we see how the impact of child sexual abuse often continues throughout survivors’ lives, affecting their relationship with their family and community. The toll of the abuse pervades every aspect of a person’s life, and many continue to suffer emotionally, socially, spiritually, and economically. Survivors have higher rates for any number of the following challenges: struggles with academic achievement and work-related performance, self-destructive behaviours and various forms of addiction, questions of sexual identity, the ability to maintain healthy relationships, and suicidal thoughts.

As if this were not tragic enough, individuals who disclose the abuse (whether immediately or years later) are often victimized a second time when they are either doubted or shunned. The stigma and isolation that many endure only serve to intensify the sexual, physical and emotional pain already suffered at the hand of their abuser.

These were just some of the issues presented at a recent Ometz conference titled “Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse,” attended by more than 150 mental health professionals and social service partners in and around Montreal. Those in attendance included representatives from both public and private organizations such as Batshaw Youth and Family Centres, the Montreal police, local hospitals, Ometz and CRIPHASE — to name just a few.

Several insights were highlighted and validated at the conference. We came to realize how essential community partnerships are in order to build long-term solutions for combating child sexual abuse and working to keep our children safe. Conferences such as this one allow us to improve and strengthen relationships with our partners in youth protection, law enforcement, community resources, medical and mental health organizations, educational institutions, and religious communities.

We now know that it is essential that we provide sufficient assistance and support to individuals and families through: mentoring programs to children and adolescents at risk; access to affordable and subsidized counselling to individuals and families; and parenting groups that offer alternative parenting strategies, communication skills and peer-to-peer support.

It is important that we make available high quality and, especially, culturally relevant safety training, prevention and awareness programs to all community members including school age children and their parents, teachers and principals, staff from youth-serving organizations, and spiritual leaders.

It is imperative that we develop and implement sound policies in organizations and schools ensuring that prevention, detection and intervention are acted on in timely and ethical ways. This means implementing hiring policies that include police checks for all employees, ongoing staff training, and the identification of clear expectations of standards of ethical behaviour. It is in this way that we may offer children and their families the support and strategies they need to become resilient and strong.

This year, Ometz and its partners will work together with local organizations on addressing child sexual abuse. No community is immune to the devastating effects of this issue. Dedicating resources to all parts of the system helps ensure that we can build a sustainable solution. Our children, entrusted to us, deserve nothing less.

Barbara Victor, Susan Kling, and Chaya Harrison work at Ometz, a charitable organization that supports and strengthens individuals and families by offering a range of employment, immigration, school and social services.

Thank you for this, ladies. I pray that you and the others involved will be greatly successful in implementing all the programs and procedures you have outlined here. God bless you.