Board to Consider Sex Abuse Program
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will consider supporting a countywide program that provides in-home counseling to teen mothers who have suffered sexual abuse.
The program--launched late last year by Interface Children, Family Services--provides about six months of psychological counseling to teenage mothers and their families across Ventura County. Eighteen pregnant or parenting teens can be enrolled in the program at one time.
Studies have shown that a significant percentage of teenage mothers have suffered sexual or physical abuse, said Chris Rutter, director of community resources for Interface. The counseling program seeks to break that cycle by raising the self-esteem of teenage girls.
“We want to let these young women know that they have choices in their lives,” Rutter said.
Supervisors on Tuesday will consider funneling $87,000 toward the program, generated by a combination of grant money from the Blue Cross Community Clinics Fund and federal Medi-Cal funds.
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