Considering Family Reconnection and Reunification after Child Sexual Abuse

some Latin@ families, keeping the family
together may be such a top priority that
makes separating any of the members
(removing the child or the person who
offended) incomprehensible (Kimber
Nicoletti, personal communication, March
31, 2014). In these cases, if reporting is
linked to family members leaving, families
may be much less likely to report.
the very systems they are told to reach
out to for help and intervention (Lau et.
el., 2003). The long-term impact of those
physical, emotional, and sexual traumas
continue to affect Native American and
African American communities today
(Smith, 2007; Wyatt, 1992).
Other cultural communities offer
different challenges and opportunities
for professionals and advocates alike. For
instance, some cultures such as Latin@ 1
families value a larger extended family
and tend to prioritize the family collective
over the individual (Falicov, 1998). In
1 We use the “@” symbol to represent the
feminine and masculine versions of words and to
promote gender inclusion.
In many Latin@ families shame is a
powerful concept used to control others’
behavior (Falicov, 1998). Shame is used by
cultures to reinforce rigid cultural norms.
A family’s sense of shame because of
immigration status, language skills, etc. can
also be a barrier to building a relationship
with service providers (Fontes, 2007) and
seeking services. Shame surrounding
sexual violence extends to a child’s family
as well. Parents may not want to disclose
abuse because of fear of shame of not
being able to protect their child or because
discrimination faced by Latin@s by
service professionals also limits reporting
(Fontes, 2000).
In some Native American communities,
when someone sexually abuses another
person, their behaviors are seen as the
result of not only their individual actions,
but of the larger community letting that
person down; when one person falls, all
community members fall (Strong Oak,
personal communication, March 31, 2014).
In these cases, the responsibility of the
larger community offers opportunities
for system-wide changes and while the
individual is held accountable, the family
and community can be involved as part of
the protective solution.
Considering Family Reconnection and Reunification after Child Sexual Abuse 15