I grew up in eastern Washington in the 70s. Our family took road trips to Seattle every summer.

I can still remember that sinking feeling of seeing trash on the side of the highway. I did not question it. This is what people did. Good-natured people were throwing their trash out their windows. I wondered why people would make the world a messy place. It was not until the Native American showed up on our television screens that behaviors began changing. I could not stand seeing this steward of nature crying because of the condition of our landscape. At the end of the commercial he says, "People start pollution and people can stop it." It took this public service announcement to change the status quo. It educated and informed the people on preserving the beauty of our nation.

This same movement is beginning to take place in relation to sexual abuse. When Oprah got on board this past year, a social revolution started. The country is starting to take notice and people are talking about and becoming informed on facts regarding the impact of sexual abuse. It will take entire communities to stand up against this epidemic. We will need to change laws, enforce sentences and put away perpetrators in order to keep our children safe. Parents can learn to be powerful in protecting their children and learn to ask the necessary questions in order to keep their kids safe.

This is not a fun subject to discuss, and the questions are not easy ones to ask. However, it is the not talking about it that gives the perpetrators the power and access.

The movement has begun in Larimer County. Larimer County Child Advocacy offers the Darkness to Light 7 Steps to Protecting our Children program. The center has trained hundreds of members from the Fort Collins and surrounding community in this program. It includes 2 1/2 hours of training and is open to all community members. It is educational, informative and empowering in the fight against sexual abuse.

The "Talking about Touching" curriculum is currently being offered in 11schools in Poudre School District. Students in grades K-3 are learning about safe touches, unsafe touches and unwanted touches. They are being empowered to say no and to identify and tell a trusted adult when they are touched in an unsafe way. The adage that sexual abuse does not happen in our community is gone. It does happen and is currently happening in our city. We must stand up and begin the revolt against it.
We challenge you to get involved in this movement. Help protect a child from the unwanted effects of sexual abuse. Learn the impact that sexual abuse has on communities. The first step is to begin talking. Help to make this city a safe place for children.

Sexual abuse will not go away by turning a blind eye to it. Just as we began the revolution to keep America beautiful in the 70s, we now have a chance to save our beautiful children from the damaging effects of sexual abuse. If you are interested in our community-based trainings, contact Ana at ana@larimercac.org.

Cindy Bryant is a prevention specialist at the Larimer County Child Advocacy Center Inc.