Back to Posts

The Frontline of Recognizing Abuse: Teachers

October 19th, 2021

The role of teachers in the lives of our children cannot be understated. We entrust teachers with the wellbeing of our children’s growth and development, and their understanding of social norms and how the world works around us. There are many roles that teachers fill which go beyond their regular scope of work. One of the most important and often overlooked roles of teachers is that of a mandated reporter.

In Massachusetts, when mandated reporters, while working in their professional capacity, have a reasonable belief to suspect abuse or neglect to a child under the age of 18, they must immediately make an oral report to the state’s child protection agency, the Department of Children and Families (DCF), followed by a written report within 48 hours of making the oral report (this is called a 51A report.). DCF then screens the cases and determines if an investigation is warranted. Even if a case isn’t found to be in the scope of work for DCF, it is then forwarded on to the District Attorney’s Office, where it is again screened, and if it is determined that a crime has been committed, an investigation is opened by law enforcement. Most of our referrals come from DCF or law enforcement, and many of those come from a mandated report.

In the early surge of COVID-19 we saw a massive drop off in referrals to Children’s Cove for investigative forensic interviews. It impacted our numbers for the entire year in a way we have never seen. Looking at the DCF Annual Report for 2020, the data shows the decrease was not specific to us. Between March and May of 2020, DCF had a reduction of reports by more than 47%. DCF also retained a lower case count than the previous two years, lowering the numbers by 12%. Additionally, per the report, with mandated reporters such as schoolteachers making up nearly 80% of all reports, “the data shows that the closure of schools accounted for much of the decline. Once school ended, the number of 51As were comparable to what the Department historically receives during the summer and school vacations.”

Following the summer of 2020, and the opening of schools in a hybrid fashion, DCF has seen the number of reports go back up. Children’s Cove has also had an increase in our referrals and a significantly higher number of cases than last year. Our referrals have increased by 44% and there has been a 54% increase in forensic interviews. Additionally, we have had a surge of referrals for cases involving commercial sexual exploitation of children by more than 86% over the previous fiscal year.

Teachers are the mandated reporters who children spend most of their time with. Teachers fill a critical role in the early recognition and reporting of suspected abuse. They are trusted confidants who children turn to for help, whether something is something is happening at home or elsewhere. With more than 60% of alleged offenders in cases last year being parents or caretakers, we know that a teacher or school staff member is often the trusted adult children will go to first.

Children’s Cove provides education, training, and professional development for any child-facing organization across the Cape and Islands at no-cost. Training for the recognition of signs and symptoms of abuse is something rarely provided for the staff at many of these organizations. With our evidence-based curriculum utilized statewide in collaboration with the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance, we can work together to stem the tide of child sexual abuse by equipping teachers with the tools they need to effectively recognize and respond to those signs of abuse and minimize the trauma to children which follows a disclosure.

Teachers are on the frontline of recognizing abuse, and Children’s Cove is here to provide support to one of their most critical roles.

Join our mailing list.

Stay up to date with what we’re working on!

Back to Posts

Safety, Security, Privacy, and the Victimization of Children Lost in it All

September 1, 2021

In 2018 The New York Times reported that more than 45 million images and videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), federally known as child pornography, existed on the internet. This number has been growing exponentially since the beginning and subsequent boom of the internet age. With nearly 48% of the global population now having smart phones, and even more with the access and ability to carry a device in their pockets, perpetrators of sexual abuse of children are more easily able to photograph or film their assaults. Furthermore, children who are being manipulated or threatened are more often able to generate their own sexual exploitation and abuse images. As access to these devices and the internet increases, the sexual abuse and exploitation of children being published online continues to grow.

Warnings and reports from the FBI and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) assert that the impacts of COVID-19 and the increased push of children into online spaces has increased the risk of online sexual exploitation of children. At Children’s Cove we saw firsthand an increase in these online cases, as did the other regional Child Advocacy Center’s in Massachusetts. And indeed, amongst our community of professionals we saw not only that children are increasing their time online, but perpetrators of abuse and exploitation are also online more.

The New York Times article also stated that in 2008 the issue of CSAM was already an epidemic (a term which holds a more household understanding now) and in 2018 it was a crisis at the breaking point. So where are we in 2021? Much like the discussion related to the climate crisis, the opioid epidemic, and the COVID-19 pandemic: we are at a point where urgent and decisive actions need to take place. One such action was recently taken in a controversial move by technology giant Apple.

Apple recently announced it will be completing an update to its iOS operating system which will contain a tool capable of scanning and identifying child sexual abuse materials on its platforms. Working in partnership with NCMEC, which functions as the national partner to investigators working on cases involving internet crimes against children, Apple will have an automated system scan individual devices to recognize what are known as hashes of images on their phone. Each image and video created and circulating on the internet is assigned a “hash.” When CSAM images/videos are identified, their hash is stored in the NCMEC database and flagged. The Apple system will work in tandem with the NCMEC system to trigger an alert for review if it detects 30 or more known hashes on an Apple device.

Seems straightforward, so where’s the controversy?

The controversy, as raised by privacy advocates and former NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, is this: “Where is the limit of what is monitored on individuals’ devices?” The action taken by Apple is effectively installing a system to monitor what you do on a private device. And while the scope of the monitoring is for random numbers and letters, the concern isn’t the process as designed and intended, but what could be done with the same implementation process. Even as Apple has steadfastly stated it will not allow this process to be abused, the discussion of privacy in our society with the increased push of technology to monitor our devices, is very worthwhile. But what are the costs we are willing to pay?

On one hand, we are talking about individual property, liberty and privacy. It is, in a certain manner of thought, a violation of constitutional privacy without due process; a potential violation of the 4th Amendment of the Constitution, even if it is simply looking for a series of hashes. And while the allowances of digital surveillance under the Patriot Act cleared the path for this type of autonomous screening, the challenges to these types of programs have matched the pace at which this technology grows and expands.

On the other hand, as described by the mother of one victim of CSAM, “Imagine the very worst thing that has ever happened to you was recorded and then shared repeatedly for other peoples’ pleasure.” And, that this repetitious sharing continues in perpetuity- the act is relived and reshared for days, months, years and decades by those who consume the content of exploitation; the survivor continues to be revictimized. There are more than 45 million of these images and videos in existence, and the agencies that hold the perpetrators of these crimes and those who share them responsible, are outmatched and underfunded.

We are far into an epic journey wrought with the challenges of the digital age, and rapidly expanding our use of technologies with inherent dangers akin to the wild west. What actions are we willing to take? What sacrifices should be considered to protect children from exploitation and victimization?

Consider this: we are aware that private companies follow our movements online and advertise to us based on that history. We know social media companies suggest new connections based on our current connections and interests. We know that cars, phones, and GPS systems monitor our travel and upload traffic data in real-time. We know all this information is stored, sold, shared, and used for private businesses already. And, for the most part, everyone accepts this as a part of the agreement to use these devices. Why then, shouldn’t the work to protect and prevent the exploitation of children be part of the agreement too?

UPDATE:

Shortly after the writing of this piece, on September 3rd Apple made the decision to delay the rollout of its iOS update after the backlash from privacy and cybersecurity advocates claiming there were inherent safety risks. While Apple indicated the primary reason for the backlash is the handling of information and how the process works rather than the functionality, it still made the decision to delay. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offered a statement in reply, “Apple’s decision to delay their proactive measures to detect, report and remove child sexual exploitation material is disheartening. At the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, we will continue to be a voice for children and support decisions that prioritize child safety. We hope that Apple’s conviction to implement meaningful child protection features does not waver in the months to come.

Join our mailing list.

Stay up to date with what we’re working on!

Back to Posts

Saying “No” is About More Than One Idea of Consent

August 19, 2021

There is seemingly no end to the debate about personal choices in our nation: for or against vaccinations, standing or kneeling for the pledge, abortion, naturalization vs. pathways to citizenship, changes to the second amendment, etc. All of these carry an inherent personal choice for or against something, but they may also lead to a secondary impact or carry a greater meaning. Whether that meaning is symbolic, or manifests change is up for debate until the test of time decides an outcome.

As the Tokyo Olympics came to an end and the United States emerged victorious it was not the medal count that struck as the monument of importance. It was the courage on display from Simone Biles in her ability to say “no” which resonated so much. Regardless of her athletic ability and whether or not she felt she had anything to prove, the lesson to take away from Ms. Biles is that bravery and self-worth isn’t pushing through challenges despite how you feel but acknowledging that sometimes a task may be too great and it’s ok to take a step back.

Recently, several articles have been published about the use of “sick time” in the United States and how prior to the COVID-19 pandemic Americans would regularly go to work sick. Nearly 25 percent of respondents in a poll stated they would go to work if they felt sick. As our country does not have a requirement for paid sick time there are many who work while sick because not doing so may mean a day of lost wages. There is a perception that if you take a sick day, that you are weak, expendable, or that you just don’t care about your job. There is a very large value system based on “work” or the responsibility you bear in your profession in our nation. The shame, guilt, and anxiety of being out sick often forces many to go into work when they feel awful, which can also impact those around them. With 1 in 5 Americans impacted in some way by a diagnosis of mental illness (depression, anxiety, PTSD, Post-Partum, etc.) how many people are forcing themselves to perform when the struggle was simply getting out of bed?

However, with the impacts of COVID-19, there has been a renewed discussion about sick time, and a much larger (though not universal) expectation that if someone is sick, feeling sick, or having any symptom of illness they should not go to work or school. This has led to impacts in the workforce, education, and numerous other sectors in our nation, but those impacts are not as devastating as believed. The discussions about being proactive in support of sick colleagues and coverage for work have accelerated and, in many cases, have positive outcomes and solutions. Are we getting closer to the discussion of the need for time off for mental health wellness as well?

Ms. Biles is a role model for us all showing immense bravery in openly discussing her struggles and her fear of not being able to perform at the level she expects of herself – which is no doubt higher than the expectations from us as spectators of the sport. Ms. Biles made a greater statement to us that sometimes, no matter how important the “job,” everyone has the choice to prioritize their own self-care and self-worth, and to say that even if others cannot see that something is wrong, there may actually be a burden being carried that is too heavy to lift at that moment.

For survivors of sexual abuse, whether it has been disclosed, undisclosed, prosecuted, dismissed, publicly known or private: the burdens deep inside can be a substantial weight to carry day to day. The adversity that Ms. Biles has endured and overcome so publicly cannot be understated. Her performance as an international athlete past and present cannot be minimized. Her true merit as a champion is her willingness to say, “I just felt it would be a little bit better to take a back seat, work on my mindfulness.” Ms. Biles’ leadership in promoting the choice to take care of herself on the world stage is as inspirational as her athletic performance.

Join our mailing list.

Stay up to date with what we’re working on!