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By SUSAN VAUGHN

“What can I do?”

That’s a question I’ve been asked a lot in the last week, and my answer now is, and has always been, “Believe the child.”

The sexual abuse scandal at Penn State has gained national attention, but this issue has roots locally and, unfortunately, has been around a long time.

I’ve worked in the area of child maltreatment, and specifically child sexual abuse, for more than 20 years. During that time, the message of child safety has continued. But it has been broadened to include people who hurt children both in and outside of families and to cover the continuum of little-known to prominent individuals.

In spite of the complexity of the issue of children at risk, the message remains simple: “Believe the child.”

Those of us who have children in our lives owe it to them to take care of them. Giving them a safe and secure setting within which to experience childhood and grow into successful adults is a cornerstone of that obligation. With all the expenses a caregiver invests in the lifetime of rearing a child, to offer that child belief is a no-cost benefit that reaps huge rewards for both the parent and the child.

Children should be told often and convincingly that they will be taken care of and that, no matter what experiences they encounter, they can always come to us — and be believed. Children should know that their caregiver is the most powerful person in the whole world and that their words will be heard.

Taking the necessary steps to keep a child safe can be daunting — there’s no question about that. However, after believing the child, reporting the concern to the appropriate agency is the next step.

As adults, we understand the potential ramifications of these accusations, but if you do not come forward you could put your child at continuing risk — as well as place other children at risk — and send the message to your child that your belief in him or her ends with an adult’s denial.

Guilford County, as do most communities, has in place a multidisciplinary team of professionals specifically trained to look into these cases — persons who talk to the child, who assist the caregivers, and who interview the alleged offender. There’s no rush to judgment in these investigations but a compassionate approach to unraveling an often complex set of circumstances to determine what is in the best interest of the community — beginning with keeping children safe.

What do we owe the children?

We owe them a safe, healthy and happy childhood free from adult worries. We owe them a stable and secure environment. We owe them a solid foundation upon which to grow into adulthood. We owe them trustworthy adults. We owe them a knowledge base of safety and protection. We owe them belief.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding a child in your life, please call the Children’s Advocacy Center at 387-6161 in Greensboro or 889-6161 in High Point and ask for Intake Services.

Susan Vaughn has a master’s in social work and is a licensed clinical social worker. She also is a forensic interviewer with Family Service of the Piedmont/Guilford County Children’s Advocacy Centers in Greensboro and High Point.