How Can We All Work to End Child Abuse and Keep Children Safe?
How Can We All Work to End Child Abuse and Keep Children Safe?
Written By: Jane Straub, Training Director
Just last week, a major ruling to hold adults accountable for child abuse was decided.
A headline and a paragraph from the Minneapolis Star Tribune Feb 26, 2025:
Minnesota Supreme Court: Schools can be held liable for hiring decisions after sexual assault case
“The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that public schools can be held liable for their hiring practices after a Minneapolis charter school didn’t perform a thorough background check and hired a teacher and sports instructor with a history of sexual assault allegations.
This decision impacts future school-abuse cases. It gives victims of abuse an opportunity to hold not only the abuser accountable, but the school or institution who employed the abuser. Minnesota is safer for children now that victims of sex abuse by teachers and coaches in schools can hold the school that employed the abuser accountable.”
Institutions that employ, hire or recruit adults to care for or supervise children and youth: you are accountable for the safety of children. This includes schools, youth-serving organizations, faith-based communities, youth sports and all the places where children and youth interact under the supervision of adults. Not only are ALL of these adults mandated reporters who are legally required to recognize and report suspected child abuse of children in their care, they are ALSO mandated to ensure child abuse is not happening within their own walls.
What does this decision impact? Hiring practices, background checks, reference checks, safety policies, adequate training to recognize child abuse, grooming, boundary violations, inappropriate behaviors or language of adults to youth, policies for reporting and tracking behaviors or reports and most importantly, all adults should recognize behaviors that are concerning, respond appropriately to the child AND know who to tell and how to report.
What happens when child abuse does happen?
Everyday at CornerHouse, children and families enter through our front door because abuse has already occurred. A report has already been made. A child has already been harmed.
CornerHouse is a Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) where specially trained forensic interviewers listen to children about potential events of experiencing or witnessing violence, abuse or traumatic events. ,CornerHouse has worked to address the traumatic effects of child abuse - supporting children and families throughout the disclosure, investigation, and legal processes since 1989.
CornerHouse and CACs around the United States, provide amazing services for children and families. We are honored to support their decision to talk about their experiences. We are hopeful that our work sets children and families on their journey to healing. We will continue to do this work until the day child abuse does not exist.
What if we can stop or prevent children from being harmed?
This decision from the Minnesota Supreme Court is a major legal step in that direction. We can and should have places where children are protected; not the adults or organizations who harm children. Education is key. Courageous conversations are necessary.
With over 35 years of experience in the Child Advocacy field, we also use a preventative approach to how we address abuse. Through primary and secondary abuse prevention programming, CornerHouse seeks to end abuse before it begins.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. To learn more about how you can join us to prevent child abuse please click here: https://www.cornerhousemn.org/preventing-abuse
Adults who are mandated reporters in Minnesota are required to receive training. CornerHouse trains adults and professionals in how to recognize, respond to and report child abuse. To learn more about our training please click here: https://www.cornerhousemn.org/collecting-minimal-facts
Please join CornerHouse in our work to reach our vision of
SAFE CHILDREN, THRIVING FAMILIES, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITIES.