Everyone's duty

Dear Editor,

The local, state and national news has been filled with reports and outrage in regard to the Penn State child sexual abuse nightmare involving Jerry Sandusky and those who failed to protect many children.

It has been interesting to listen to the input in regard to this case and the disbelief that something of this magnitude could be kept such a secret for so many years.

Unfortunately, child abuse thrives in secrecy and when adults choose to look the other way and have the stance that it is someone else's job or responsibility to report, the secrecy of abuse continues and creates tragedy in many more lives.

In the state of Nebraska, everyone is considered a mandatory reporter; the law is clear that if an individual has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect, he or she shall report such incident to the proper law enforcement agency or to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Remember, it is not the job of individuals who suspect abuse to investigate, but to report to the proper authorities.

I hope that This tragedy can serve as an opportunity for education to each of us. For years, prevention has been geared toward children, teaching them about safe and unsafe touches.

This is critical and must continue, however it is no substitute for adult responsibility to be watchful over children. We have to be the eyes, ears and voice to speak up when something just does not seem right, or when a child confides in you -- no matter how much information is provided, it is our moral and legal responsibility to report.

Schools, churches, daycares, employers/volunteers of child organizations should have a clear policy in regard to reporting suspected abuse and assuring that every precaution to provide a safe environment for children is taken to help minimize the opportunities for abuse and grooming of potential victims to occur.

It is confusing for children to identify suspicious behaviors, especially with an adult in a trusted role. Adults are much more likely to recognize suspicious behaviors between an adult and child. We make sure kids wear seat belts; we take precautions to walk them across a busy street, why we would ever leave the job of preventing abuse solely to children?

Stopping abuse must begin with a conscious decision to be watchful and not turn your head or second guess what your gut is feeling. We know there are offenders in communities and we know that they prey on the vulnerability of children -- as community members, leaders and authority figures we should never allow abuse to go unseen! As we have witnessed with the Penn State case, it is not about protecting one's self from the effects it may have on our personal life, our relationship with others or even our job, it is about the children we can and should protect!

LeeAnn Nielsen,

Bridge of Hope Child

Advocacy Center

North Platte, Nebraska