PUTNAM — According to recent numbers compiled by Connecticut’s Child Advocacy Centers in 2013, Windham County has, by far, the highest incidence of child sexual abuse per capita in the state. 

 “I couldn’t continue to hear the number of children that are affected by child abuse in my community and not figure out how to do something about it. I started by personally being trained in how to identify the often subtle signs of child sexual abuse. I work with Dr. Marc Cerrone as part of the Windham County Multidisciplinary Team providing medical consultative services for children who have reported sexual abuse,” said Erica Kesselman, MD, an obstetrician/gynecologist at Day Kimball Medical Group.     

Last year to respond to the high risk and high incidence of abuse in Windham County, Day Kimball enhanced its child sexual abuse prevention efforts and began training all of its clinical teams and staff members that have direct responsibilities for caring for children in the Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children child abuse prevention program. Using real stories and sometimes inviting survivors to share personal stories, the program focuses on The Five Steps to Protecting Our Children. They include: 1. Learn the facts. 2. Minimize opportunities. 3. Talk about it. 4. Recognize the signs. 5. React responsibly. (Learn more at www.d2l.org.) To date, Kesselman, an authorized Stewards of Children facilitator, has trained 120 employees with the goal of 100 percent participation by the end of 2017.

Almost 300 additional people outside the Day Kimball organization have also been trained by working with community-based organizations. Pomfret Community School (PCS) has already hosted two sessions and trained more than 100 teachers, staff members and bus drivers. The Pomfret school serves 475 children, kindergarten through eighth grade.  

 “We feel very fortunate to have had Dr. Kesselman training Pomfret Community School employees on the warning signs of sexual abuse through her two recent workshops held for the entire PCS faculty and staff.  With Dr. Kesselman’s support, we believe we are ahead of the curve as far as ensuring our employees are up-to-date and educated in identifying and responding to any issues of sexual abuse that may arise during the school year,” said Dr. Matt A. Bisceglia, PCS superintendent. 

Bisceglia added that on June 11, 2014, Governor Dannel P. Malloy signed Erin’s Law, SB 203. This bill requires age-appropriate sexual abuse education in Connecticut.  At this time, the State Department of Education is in the process of developing a curriculum that will be used throughout the state.  

“Child abuse is an uncomfortable topic to address. I applaud those who are willing to come forward, look at what’s happening in our community, and then feel empowered and inspired to make a difference. Abuse is something that’s passed down generation to generation, so every time we prevent another incident we stop the cycle for that family.   Darkness to Light Steward’s of Children gives adults the questions to ask other adults to keep children in the community safe.  By doing this, we send a clear message that we are a child friendly community and we will minimize opportunities for abusers to have access to our children.” said Kesselman.  

The Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children child abuse prevention program is one component of The NEST, a community collaborative to provide Northeast Connecticut children and families the support needed to create and sustain healthy and safe family environments. Day Kimball is a founding member of the collaborative.

 

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