Confronting Abuse
The National Center for the Victims of Crime estimates one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
Recent events at Penn State have sparked national attention around this issue, which is typically shrouded in silence and often unreported.
How can society recognize child sexual abuse? What can people do to prevent it? And what resources are available to victims and their families?
Penn State Public Broadcasting and host Patty Satalia will explore this issue with a panel of experts in a special, one-hour, interactive program called “Confronting Child Sexual Abuse.”
Panelists
Lucy Johnston-Walsh, J.D., M.S.W.
Lucy Johnston-Walsh, J.D., M.S.W. is the clinic supervising attorney for the Children’s Advocacy Clinic, part of the Penn State Dickinson School of Law.
A former state and federal lobbyist for a child advocacy organization and past chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Children's Rights Committee, Johnston-Walsh directs the clinic’s operations and supports its mission to serve children and advocate for legislative issues related to children in the welfare system.
David Finkelhor, Ph.D.
David Finkelhor, Ph.D. is the director of the Crimes against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire.
He’s also the co-director of the Family Research Laboratory and a professor of sociology. He has been studying the problems of child victimization, child maltreatment and family violence since 1977.
Pamela G. McCloskey, M.Ed.
Pamela G. McCloskey, M.Ed. is a licensed psychologist at McCloskey Counseling Center in Milesburg, Pa.
Since 1980, she has provided therapy to children and adolescents who have been abused. She’s received specialized training in the areas of forensic interviewing, sexual victimization issues and sexual acting-out behaviors.
Matt Bodenschatz
Matt Bodenschatz is a survivor of child sexual abuse.
A native of Cambria County, Pa., the 38-year-old is currently an adult learner at Penn State. He recently shared his experiences with the public through an open letter to the Centre Daily Times newspaper.
Host
Patty Satalia
During 30 years in broadcasting, Patty Satalia has worked as a news anchor, talk-show host, public affairs manager, and producer.
She has conducted more than 5,500 interviews for WPSU and has earned Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards for public affairs and entertainment programming.
Thursday, Nov. 17
9:00 p.m.
- WPSU-TV
- WPSU-FM
- http://wpsu.org/live (live stream)
- Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) (simulcast)
Questions for the Panel
1-800-543-8242
connect@psu.edu
Help is Available
In Pennsylvania: 1-888-727-7227
- Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR)
To find a sexual assault center, click on “local centers” in the yellow bar to find a listing of all 51 sexual assault centers in PA.
Outside of PA: 1-800-656-4673
- National Sexual Assault Hotline
Live help from the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
Additional Resources
- Centre County Women's Resource Center
Crisis Intervention, services, education, and advocacy in Centre County. - Hero Project
A campaign to educate adults on child sexual abuse and motivate them to take action and report suspicions of child sexual abuse - National Sexual Violence Resource Center
The nation’s principle information and resource center regarding all aspects of sexual violence.