Tatiana Kisil Matthews, Licensed Professional Counselor and author of Fred the Fox Shouts “No!” will be teaching parents of Whitfield County how to talk to their kids about sexual abuse prevention and safety with people that children know and trust. The group will meet April 30, from 5:30-6:30 (English) and 6:45-7:45 (Spanish.) This event is being held at Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy 2300 Maddox Chapel Road, Dalton GA 30721.
Ms. Matthews and illustrator Allison Fears self-published a first-of-its-kind children’s paperback book that addresses the topic of sexual abuse with people children know and trust. Coming on the heels of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, the book helps parents and caregivers introduce the concepts of “private parts” and safety with the people most familiar to the victims.
The two Georgia mothers began distributing Fred the Fox Shouts “NO!” in August 2011 after looking for a resource to open a conversation with her own children (ages 4 and 7) and having difficulty finding a book that was simple and direct but not scary or threatening.
A licensed professional counselor, Ms. Matthews paid heed to the fact that 93 percent of child abuse victims know the person who perpetrated the abuse. She advocates having a conversation about this topic with children from birth.
“It is just as important to talk to your kids about sexual abuse as it is to tell them to hold your hand while crossing the street, and it can be done in a responsible and non-threatening manner,” said Ms. Matthews. “Children need to know that it’s OK for them to protect themselves and report if an adult or another child makes them uncomfortable, no matter how much they care or like that person.”