Child abuse: We must eliminate the problem, not the funding

Much has been written lately in Missouri newspapers about the proposed elimination of $1.89 million in funding for Missouri child-advocacy centers by the governor. The House and the Senate have restored this entire amount to their budget bills, and the bills now go to a conference committee.

As noted in state Sen. Jason Crowell's April 16 letter, all of the Southeast Missouri legislators, Democrats and Republicans, have been overwhelmingly supportive of the local child-advocacy center known as the SEMO Network Against Sexual Violence, as well as the statewide funding. Senator Crowell especially has been a vocal advocate of the SEMO-NASV his entire legislative career. As the executive director of SEMO-NASV, I am very proud of my legislators and their outspoken support for abused children.

Statewide funding for child-advocacy centers is less than 1 percent of the proposed statewide budget -- a mere drop in the bucket -- yet it is critical funding for much needed services. The 15 statewide centers provided care to over 4,800 children last year.

Those agencies work collaboratively with child welfare, juvenile, law enforcement and medical providers to develop a solid investigation to give to county prosecutors. Because of this interagency cooperation, kids are not re-victimized with multiple interviews. They are seen by medical personnel trained in sexual-abuse evaluation, and prosecution of perpetrators is increased.

Child sexual abuse is common. It is so hard to accept this fact, but a fact it is. One in four children will be sexually abused before the age of 18. That is 25 percent of our childhood population. That is an epidemic by any standard of measurement. Yet we as a society do not want to talk about or acknowledge this problem. We tell our children they are lying when they disclose abuse to us, or we tell them never to speak of this again. The silence of this crime is what keeps this act an epidemic.

We must talk about sexual abuse. We must, as a society and as a community, acknowledge that it happens. And when we acknowledge that it happens, we have a responsibility to eliminate the problem, not the funding.

In light of the recent story of the disappearance and murder of yet another child in Florida, Sarah Lunde, it is imperative that funding for programs that support efforts to prevent child abuse and treat those who have been abused is not eliminated or reduced. Community education regarding child sexual abuse prevention must take place in our homes, schools, places of worship and community centers. Now is not the time to cut corners on protecting kids.

Although the recent national stories of child abductions and murders have come out of Florida, it is important to understand that sexual abuse is not a crime that occurs in other places. It is something that happens every day right here in Southeast Missouri.

Is there a need for Missouri to be responsible with its spending? Of course. We must use our personal dollars wisely, and so must our government. As a child advocate, though, I cannot justify balancing the budget on the backs of our children. They simply have too much of a burden to bear already.

I respectfully ask the people of Missouri and my fellow residents of Southeast Missouri to stand up for these children by letting the governor know you want child-advocacy centers funded at the full $1.89 million.

Without you, children have no voice. Without you, the silence of abuse continues.

Tammy Gwaltney of Cape Girardeau is the executive director the SEMO Network Against Sexual Violence.