Wednesday, April 9, 2003
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Wednesday, April 9, 2003 |
Group therapy program to help young victims of sexual assaultBy JOHN
MUNFORD The youngest victims of sexual assault now have an outlet to vent their emotions thanks to a new therapeutic program being offered by the Southern Crescent Sexual Assault Center. "Heroes Great and Small" allows those victims to meet in a group setting, with each victim having a volunteer adult on hand, said Jennifer Bivins of the Southern Crescent Sexual Assault Center, which serves Fayette, Clayton and Henry counties. The goal is to make the children feel good about reporting the crime, Bivins said. "It's 'You're a hero because you told and we're proud of you because you told,'" Bivins said. "It's really a recovery process, a healing for children who come to this group." During the sessions, participants are given a stuffed animal to make them feel comfortable, Bivins said. The topics range from how the victims felt when they were assaulted to how they feel about the perpetrator, she added. Sibilings of victims are also invited to participatein the program, which focuses on children ages 4 to 11, Bivins said. They too may have been affected by the assault since they may have witnessed it, she added. The program fills a void for families who can't afford to pay professionals for one-on-one treatment, Bivins said. Such professionals can be hard to find also, she noted. For more information on the program, call the Southern Crescent Sexual Assault Center at 770-603-4045.
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