Two adult survivors of child abuse shared their stories during our webinar last week. Here is a link to the recording.
They both were afraid to talk when interviewed in front of their parents and foster parents, and suffered reprisals after disclosing their injuries to someone in authority.
When they read their case records as adults, they were shocked that even their serious injuries were not documented. Instead the case notes focused on their demeanor, describing them as rebellious children who perhaps therefore deserved their abuse.
Outside of a tiny bubble of professionals at the Department of Human Services and Minnesota counties, no one thinks it is ok to interview children in the presence of their alleged abusers or send them back home to virtually certain reprisals. It’s time for these officials to align their practices with community norms.