Shielding Abused Children

The last thing a sexually abused child needs is having to deal with well-meaning and sympathetic officials who, though just doing their job, force the youngster through the traumatic experience of having to recount--and relive--a brutal experience time and again.

That insensitive approach could--and should--be a thing of the past if an unprecedented 6-month pilot program can find permanent funding.

Using $117,191 allocated by the County Board of Supervisors, which is loath to turn loose its tight budget funds, and another $90,000 pledged by private agencies, a program using a team approach with people trained to interview children will be launched in January to shield children from further trauma. Mental health and other support services will also be provided for the family and the child.

The idea for the team interview approach came from Municipal Judge Pamela L. Iles and Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez. Its scope and county funding are unprecedented. Now that the program has been started, it must be maintained. There were 3,478 cases of sexual abuse against children reported last year in Orange County. The young victims in such cases have suffered enough without having to suffer the painful reminders raised in needlessly numerous investigative interviews.