D2L CEO, Jolie Logan, presents at annual meeting of Attorneys General in Alaska
On June 20th Jolie spoke at the annual AG meeting in Anchorage Alaska. With the issue of child sexual abuse on top of mind of all Americans but especially on those who are responsible for law enforcement and criminal justice, Jolie called on the AGs to use their voice and influence to get others in their state involved in prevention and to insist that youth serving organization’s use education and policy to raise the bar in how we care for our children. Jolie impressed upon …
Lessons from Sandusky – Lesson #5 – Education is Key
The past 4 blogs on lessons learned provided advice and tips for parents and youth serving organizations. We want everyone to know that there are positive, proactive steps that all adults can take starting now to better protect children. But we also get that responding to child sexual abuse is risky and scary. Let’s use Mike McQueary, the assistant football coach, who as a post graduate assistant witnessed Sandusky in the shower with a young boy as an example. It’s easy for us as the …
Stick with the Program People! – Lessons from Sandusky – Lesson #4
The verdict is in but that doesn’t mean it’s time to stop the conversations about what we can learn from this case. Today, let’s look at another valuable lesson to be learned. Abusers seek privacy in order to abuse children, and privacy is easier off-site, away from the facility, school, field, etc., outside regular program activities, such as at the abuser’s or child’s home. Sandusky gave children rides in his car, had children sleep over his house and took children on trips where they could …
The Verdict is In – Guilty on 45 Counts!
First, we would like to say that we are happy that justice has been served. We applaud the courage of the survivors who came forward to see that Jerry Sandusky pays for the crimes he committed. By sharing their painful story with the world, these men ensured that other children would be saved from this predator. That courage has been rewarded with this decision. Now that we know Sandusky’s fate, we hope the victims and their families, the Centre County community and the nation can …
Lessons from Sandusky – Lesson #2 – Grooming Thru Gift Giving
Be on the lookout for an adult or older youth that singles out children with gifts, special privileges, or preferential treatment. Sandusky’s victims testified that he gave them expensive gifts, took them to bowl games, and gave them tickets and access at Penn State football games. Gift giving is an important part of the grooming process. They are used to gain trust and favor and set an expectation that they might go away if the child does not comply with the wishes of the perpetrator. …
Lessons from Sandusky – Lesson #1 – Tickling Taken Too Far
We can learn a lot from a prolific pedophile like Sandusky. This week we’ll take a look at how we can better protect children from others like him. Lesson 1: Be on the lookout for an adult or older youth inappropriately touching or tickling a child. Abusers touch or handle children in ways that are inappropriate to test limits and push boundaries. They begin with non-sexual touches like a hand on the thigh, stroking the hair, or massaging the back. They also use roughhousing or …
Happy Father’s Day from D2L’s Director of Operations
It was September 9, 1999. “A DAUGHTER? What am I going to do with a girl??” Unlike most people these days, my wife and I chose not to determine the sex of our child before she was born, thus the gargantuan shock. Like most men, I automatically and rather foolishly assumed that I was having a boy, only to be pounded by the dismay that “he” was a “she,” and had the daunting and foreign task of being responsible for a girl. Ugh, dresses …
One Guy’s Mission to Give Back
You could say Matt Waldman is a football guy. After all he is a featured writer on www.footballguys.com. He also authors his own blog at www.mattwaldmanrsp.com. With almost 60,000 followers of his expert analysis of college prospects and the NFL Draft, serious football folks are eager to hear what Matt has to say. His highly coveted publication, The Rookie Scouting Profile, is eagerly anticipated each year by football writers, fantasy football enthusiasts, and hardcore football fans who follow the draft with rabid enthusiasm. And …
Dialogue Brings Perspective, Public Attention to Child Sexual Abuse
Late December is always the time for reflection. We consider how our thinking has been affected by what we’ve learned during the past year, how it has changed behavior and, ultimately, altered some beliefs. Change in perspective on child sexual abuse may be 2011’s lasting legacy. But it is so much more than a year’s end reflection. It could signal the tangible shift in public dialogue that this issue has needed for far too long. Over the past two months, we have witnessed communities in …
Penn State Incident Should Empower All Adults To Better Protect Children
As individuals and communities, we are all impacted by the horrible allegations of child sexual abuse by a former assistant football coach at Penn Sate. These reports leave us wondering how such atrocities could happen when so many well-minded adults were around –– yet none took the necessary action steps to end the abuse and the offender’s access to children. Further, parents are left wondering how they can best protect their children. Shock, disbelief and outrage are often the first reactions to such news. However, …
