JOPLIN, MO.--- More than 6,500 kids were abused in Missouri just in the last year.
"Just in our state, that's an astonishing number of kids," says Joy Oesterly, Missouri Child Sex Abuse Prevention Task Force, Member.
Joy Oesterly wants to change that. She's one of 14 members on the Missouri Child Sex Abuse Prevention Task Force.
"It's a trauma that is toxic and repetitive, so that can really be embedded in the child's brain and it can take a lot of time to heal," says Oesterly.
The task force just released 22 recommendations to help put an end to what she says is an epidemic. One proposal is more education.
"Community based child sexual abuse education for adult, parents, for community members. Also education for kids," says Oesterly.
Kathi Olson is the director of Joplin's Children's Center of Southwest Missouri. She says spreading the word of sexual abuse along with the importance of reporting it is crucial.
"Every time a child comes to see us we're thankful that someone cared enough to suspect that child was in danger," says Kathi Olson, Director of Joplin's Children's Center of Southwest Missouri.
The task force also proposed allowing mandated reporters, like doctors and teachers to personally report sexual abuse. Currently, they must go through a supervisor who can decide to report it or not.
"Child sexual abuse is a very embedded issue in our communities and that takes a lot of work to create the social change that is needed to make the protection of children a priority in our lives everyday," says Oesterly.
She and Olson both say the task force is a great start in tackling the problem.
"We need to take that one on and not be afraid to get involved," says Oesterly.
If you would like to view all 22 recommendations, click here.
If you would like to view all 22 recommendations, click here.
