Журнал Афиша Март 2017

Call us if you want to place an ad in our next issue: (971)238-4687 or email: info@afishapdx.com
WARNING SIGNS OF
POTENTIAL PREDATORS
The Mama Bear Effect:
Prevention Tip of the Week:
With as much as 95% of child
sexual abuse being perpetrated by
people we know - they often don’t
need to do much to gain our trust or
access to our children, they already
have it.
However, some patterns of
offenders have been identified and
we would like to discuss them with
you to better prepare your sense
of instinct if you see this type of
behavior - not just for the sake of
your children, but for the children
of others in your family, community,
etc.
1. This can happen in a family
or event setting - an adult that
is spending most of their time
playing with the kids. Sure we all
like to play with our kids, but we
generally also like to take a break
and socialize with our adult friends,
too. Some offenders will be so set
upon identifying a good target and
building a rapport with them, they
will take advantage of any time they
can have with children.
2. In order to break down a
child’s defenses, family and nonfamily
offenders often use what
would generally be considered as
innocent touching to make the child,
and others, use to their touching.
Then when alone with the child, they
progress to sexual interaction.
3. Offenders that don’t have
easy access to children will need
to find a family or organization that
will. The quickest way to do this, is
to appear as ‘perfect’ and helpful
as possible. What seems like an
answer to the prayers of a family
in need, or organization looking for
good help - is actually a trap.
4. Offenders that live or share
their home with children may take
opportunities to walk in various
states of undress, encourage
children to do the same -
accidentally walk in while a child is
dressing or using the bathroom, etc.
They may take the attitude that the
naked body is natural and normal in
order to deter people from seeing
their true intentions.
5. Some offenders - especially
parents, grandparents are very
controlling of children - deciding
what they wear, who they can see
etc. Sexual abuse is, for many
offenders, about control and this
can come through in their everyday
behavior.
6. Sexual offenders that have
a preference for a certain-aged
child, may show a pattern of having
a close relationship with a certain
child and then find a new child once
their victim is beyond their age of
preference or they no longer have
access (ex they moved into a new
grade). FYI: a Pedophile has a
sexual attraction to pre-pubescent
children, a Hebephile has a sexual
preference for children during
puberty.
7. Some offenders are brazen
enough to talk about children in a
sexual way. One mother noticed
her second husband began paying
more attention to her daughter and
making comments about her figure
once she developed breasts and
was becoming more adult-like.
8. Offenders don’t want to get
caught- some may try to turn the
tables on anyone that questions or
becomes suspicious, accusing that
person of having a sick mind, of not
trusting them - anything they can say
to make the other person feel crazy,
even with physical evidence they
will stick to their story of innocence.
9. Some predators may seek
to lure children in their community
with cool cars, toy collections, tree
houses, etc.
10. Predators are successful
offering free or low-cost babysitting
to parents and gaining access to
children. Childcare is not easy - we
all must be wary of those that are
eager to gain time alone with our
children. One grandfather would
sexually abuse his granddaughter
telling her mother that she was ‘too
attached’ to her and needed time
away from her.
11. We call this a bait-andswitch
technique, an offender, often
a male in accomplice with a female
(wife or girlfriend) will use them
as a front. In one case, a woman
that provided overnight nannying
service to new parents allowed
her husband to ‘substitute’ for her
- the parents not wanting to be
rude accepted him into their home
and he sexually abused their other
children. This can also hold true
with childcare providers - they may
sexually abuse the child and send
photos/videos or allow the predator
access to children, sometimes
posing as staff or a volunteer.
Our best advice - trust your
gut! Anytime someone’s behavior
or a situation makes you feel that
something may be unsafe - listen!
Our first priority must be the safety
of children. Be open and vocal about
your education in body safety and
that you are ready to believe and
defend them!
For more:
TheMamaBearEffect.org
Tatyana I. Bondarchuk, MSW
Crime Victim Advocate
Lutheran Community Services NW
tbondarchuk@lcsnw.org
T: (971) 888-7833
F: (971) 703-4972
This article for the adult audience
84 March 2017 Будьте замечены!