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Let’s Be… Abuse Free!

Let’s Be… Abuse Free!. “Healthy Relationships, Sexuality and the Prevention of Abuse” A Work in Progress…. The Problem. Is BIG People are getting hurt People NOT protected by “isolation” or ignoring “facts of life”. Crimes against People with Developmental Disabilities.

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Let’s Be… Abuse Free!

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  1. Let’s Be… Abuse Free! “Healthy Relationships, Sexuality and the Prevention of Abuse” A Work in Progress….

  2. The Problem... • Is BIG • People are getting hurt • People NOT protected by “isolation” or ignoring “facts of life”

  3. Crimes against People with Developmental Disabilities 5 Millioneach year in the U.S. compares with • 8,000 hate crimes • 1 million Elder abuse • 1 million Spousal Abuse • 1.4 million Child abuse • Petersilia 1998

  4. Sexual Abuse Statistics • Children with DD … • girls...39% - 68% • boys...16% - 30% • The Roeher Institute, Canada • Adults with DD. . . • 80% of women • 54% of men • Stromness (1993)

  5. Multiple Sexual Assaults... Of those sexually assaulted: • 80% assaulted more than once • 50% 10 or MORE times • Sobsey & Doe, 1991

  6. Reporting… • only 3% sexual assaults on people with DD are reported James, 1988 • 71% crimes against people with severe MR went unreported Wilson/Brewer 1992 • 85% of criminal abuse in institutions never reaches authoritiesPowers, Mooney & Nunno, 1990

  7. Who Are The Offenders? 99% known & trusted by victim & their caregivers Baladerian, 1991 • 27.7% disability service providers • 6.5% other disabled individuals (often also in specialized program) • 5.4% specialized transportation • 4.3% specialized foster parents Sullivan & Knutson, 2000

  8. There is Hope • National…Crime Victims with Disabilities Awareness Act • California…Crime Victims with Disabilities Initiative (CVDI) Office of Criminal Justice Planning Police Officer training (POST) CA Department of Justice GATHERING STATISTICS on People with DD TRAINING and GRANTS INTER-AGENCY COORDINATION

  9. What can be done? • CA CVDI...Recommends: • Develop Interpersonal / Social Skills • Reduce Isolation • Recognize / Report Crime • Provide “Personal Safety” Training • Educate Communities

  10. Policy Standards for…. “Healthy Relationships, Sexuality and the Prevention of Abuse”

  11. Policy Standards Topics... • Education • Boundaries - Privacy • Relationships • Sexuality - Reproduction • Abuse • Sexual Misconduct

  12. Guiding Principles... • People with Developmental Disabilities have a right to: • … grow into adulthood and grow into adult relationships • … have a safe place to live • … have information in order to be able to form healthy relationships

  13. Policy Introduction... • response to concerns • developed by Advisory Committee • adopted by FNRC and AB2 • vendors develop own Policy • individualized implementation • staff training & competency evaluation

  14. Education Policies... • People with DD • need the most education • get the least • are punished for what they don’t know • Staff are always teaching clients… • with or without any formal training • All people can learn • Parents teach their children

  15. Policies on... Boundaries & Privacy • Boundaries - key to abuse prevention • Privacy - Socio/Sexual Information • Privacy - Space • key to dignity/adult relationships • If NO private space…no appropriate behavior • Personal Care must be done “right”

  16. Relationships Policies... • Relationships • To have friends and be loved… ….is to be human • Staff are not the same as friends • Marriage • People with healthy adult relationships... … are less likely to be victimized • Marriage can be beautiful!

  17. Policies on... Sexuality & Reproduction • 6 Policies - Big Issue… • Education…not about sex • Education…helps STOP abuse, unwanted births, inappropriate public behavior • Values are learned … and respected • Foundation for healthy adult relationships begins...very young

  18. Policies on... Abuse, Reporting & Misconduct • Abuse affects everything…lasts a lifetime • Trained staff < abusers • Trained staff > successful prosecution • People CAN learn • Ignoring sexual misconduct …HIGH COST for the person with DD and the victim

  19. Call To Action…Join Us! Is there really anything more important?

  20. Your First Steps… • Commit to our “Abuse Free” campaign • Review “Policy Standards” • Adopt or revise...for YOUR agency • Develop /Implement ... Plan /Protocols

  21. There’s Help… • FNRC website: • “Policy Considerations” Book • Resources..books, curriculum, videos AB2+ • Self Advocate Projects • Training Conferences… • Privacy & Personal Care Protocols • PR - Poster contest…buttons…bookmarks

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