This month the topic will be in the media more than any other time of year (hopefully).  Here is a link to the official site.

Unfortunately statistics say that it happens to one in every four girls.  So you do know victims that have been abused, and you may know future targets of abuse/assault that can be spared.

I think parents especially need to be hyper-vigilant about knowing who their children (boys and girls) are spending time with.  Sadly, when children are involved, nine times out of ten its someone that knows the child and/or family.  If you look through my blog you will see story after story that involve baseball coaches, teachers, church workers, priests, neighbors, babysitters, piano teachers, gymnastic instructors, track coaches, family friends, soccer coaches, Sunday school teachers, relatives...and the worst of all the child's own parent.

My suggestion is to teach our children the basic safety rules we all grew up with about not talking to strangers, telling a parent or teacher if an anyone touches them inappropriately, etc.  But we have to be careful not to scare them to death with the endless possibilities and cause unnecessary fear.  Parents have to do their part to keep their kids protected.

We can't be with our kids 24/7 but when they are young we should know where they are, who they are with, and that they are not in any vulnerable situations.

A blog friend has a blog called "fallen from grace" about her personal experience growing up with abuse.  There is an excellent post there today called "Identifying Sexual Abuse".  I've done research, read books and had training in this area and her has info I've never seen before.

So anyhow, I just wanted to call your attention to this issue and do my part to spread the word.  Thanks.