How do we stop pedophiles like Dr. Earl Bradley?

[MeLisa Turcott Strongheart]

Today I wrote this response to the question posed by another martial artist and self defense expert: "how do we stop pedophiles like Dr. Earl Bradley?
http://everythingselfdefense.ning.com/forum/topics/how-do-we-stop-p...

it made me want to share it here.


I have spent most of my career actively working on this particular issue. First as a therapist and advocate for children, teens, and families dealing with sexual abuse, exploitation, and assault.

And now as a martial arts instructor who is on a mission to educate and train students, and families to prevent this kind of atrocity in their lives, as well as to empower with confidence, skills, and knowledge some of those students who come to me, and you if you are are an instructor, after a devastating event.

To start, my humble recommendation, is dive in. Get in formed. More than teaching kids to yell "stranger", as the facts are, the "stranger" is in the house, as it were.

I have an MA in psychology, and a ton of extra work in the field, and I am constantly reading.

Learn the signs of abuse in children, in families.
Learn the signs of "predatory" adults.

Give parents resources (i'll add some on here)

talk to a survivor. child abuse survivor, rape survivor, etc.

Interview a rape advocate, or child advocate.

If you run a martial arts school make SURE it is not a zone where any abuse could take place. Model the safety, security processes that you would like to see in all child serving businesses and activities.

for example: no adults in bathrooms, locker rooms at the same time as kids without another adult present
no use of back doors, or doorways unlocked that are possible to be unsupervised
background checks on staff, and background checks on any adult, or teen, working with kids in the program

(by the way, if someone says they feel that is invasive---- you don't want them.)

parents in visible locations at all times.

older kids, and teens, not alone with young kids and teens

staff do not socialize/spend time with kids outside of the facility alone, ever.

public communication between adults/staff/teens only: eg an open blog, or on the wall of facebook etc

Ok, i am going on and on. if you would like more information please let me know.

As martial artists, and self defense experts we are willing to spend literally thousands of hours, years and years, on the physical self defense. Lets spend some time on identifying the threats lurking around in our kid's locker rooms, libraries, and in this specific case the pediatricians.

One of the most comprehensive and informative books available as a resource is "

The Seduction of Children: Empowering Parents and Teachers to Protect Children from Child Sexual Abuse

Reading this book, and recommending it to others, parents, coaches, instructors, would make a world of difference. A crash course in prevention.

Please contact me if you would like any help with this.

respectfully,

MeLisa Turcott Strongheart
M.A Psychology
5th Dan Master Instructor
mercerislandmartialarts.ning.com

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