Description

Note: We're discussing sexual abuse of minors by adults in this episode, hence the explicit rating. We do not discuss graphic details, but what we do discuss could still be disturbing to some listeners. While it is certainly a conversation I think parents should listen to, maybe use the ol' Airpods for this one.

Would you be shocked to hear that 1 in 13 kids will experience sexual abuse by a teacher before they graduate high school? That means something like 300,000 kids are being sexually abused each year - and yet we hardly hear about it. We are simply not doing near enough to protect our kids from these predators.

My guest, Faith Colson, is a survivor of sexual abuse who has become an advocate for student safety. After making a delayed outcry, she turned her pain into action by reaching out to a state lawmaker in Illinois, resulting in Faith’s Law being passed. She now supports advocates in other states who are working to promote similar legislation.

Notes:

• An epidemic of sexual abuse in schools
• S.E.S.A.M.E.’s website: https://www.sesamenet.org/
• Abuse survivor Michelle Denault created the training “Grooming 101: A Predator’s Playbook”—she’s who coined “groomed with love,” and here is her website: https://michelledenault.com/
• Faith’s Law resources (since we defined sexual misconduct): https://www.isbe.net/faithslaw
• Indiana’s newly passed statute that includes an administrative definition of “misconduct relating to the health, safety, or well-being of a student": https://iga.in.gov/pdf-documents/123/2023/senate/bills/SB0342/SB0342.05.ENRH.pdf
• Enough Abuse’s parent guide with a list of boundary violating behaviors (pages 9, 10): https://enoughabuse.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Print-082223-NationalStraightTalk-Final-Updated.pdf
• And I didn’t mention this resource directly, but it’s by the author of that 2004 report and is an excellent summary article: https://www.sesamenet.org/_files/ugd/b75d1b_3bc1e524fc7d4f47b5600c759bbd0ad7.pdf

Other state laws

• Kansas: https://www.ksrevisor.org/statutes/chapters/ch21/021_055_0012.html
• Texas (the specific code is 21.12): https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.21.htm
• Currently filed bill in Illinois: https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=112&GA=103&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=4241&GAID=17&LegID=151032&SpecSess=&Session=
• Enough Abuse/Prevent Child Abuse America Call to Action report: https://enoughabuse.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-Call-to-Action-Report-September-Update.pdf
• https://www.kidstoo.org/