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Defending Childhood Task Force Hosts Baltimore Hearing

When Jacquelynn Kuhn was five, an older boy in the neighborhood sexually abused her.

His threats and constant warnings about how she would go to jail because what she did with him was bad, kept her from telling anyone what happened until she was 30-years-old and going through a divorce.

Through tears, Kuhn shared her story – the lasting impact on her life, how she's working to heal – with the Defending Childhood Task Force at the first of four public hearings in Baltimore last week.

About 18 advocates, community leaders, survivors and researchers testified on the prevalence and needs of children exposed to violence across the country to the 13-member task force assembled by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.

During his first year in office, Holder said the National Survey on Children Exposed to Violence found that 60 percent of the nation's children have been exposed to violence at home and in their communities.

"No matter where you live, today – across this country – children are more likely to be exposed to violence and crime than adults," he said. "This problem has significant consequences for individuals, families and entire communities."

Finding solutions to end children's exposure to violence will be challenging, but Holder said he is optimistic.

"Progress is possible," he said. "And the changes that we hope to see are possible – if we are willing to think creatively, to act collaboratively, and to enlist the help of a variety of partners."

The task force itself is a lesson in collaboration. Consisting of doctors, law enforcement and advocates, the task force brings together a variety of professionals with an interest in reducing children's exposure to violence.

Joe Torre, Major League Baseball Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations, serves as co-chair of the committee and brings his personal experience with domestic violence as well as a foundation he started because of it.

As a child, Torre watched his father beat his mother, and though his father never abused him, he was affected.

"There's no worse emotion than fear," he said. "Even though I was never hit, the fear was enough."

Actress Sonia Sohn lent some star power to the hearing with her testimony about her violent childhood. Sohn, best known for her role as Det. Kima Grimes on the HBO show "The Wire," has started ReWired for Change, an outreach group for at-risk youth involved in criminal activity.

"We want to make personal transformations in the hood, cool," she said.

When asked what she has found works with helping children who have experienced violence, Sohn stressed the importance of consistency.

"These kids are moved by consistency in their lives," she said. "People who show up, even when they've messed up."

When considering what can prevent or help young victims of sexual assault, Kuhn suggested empowering kids by teaching them what kind of touching is wrong and encouraged counseling.

"I know now, when I break that silence, I help break that cycle of abuse," she said.

The task force will host three more hearings before submitting a report, with policy recommendations, to the attorney general next December.

Exact dates haven't been set, but the task force is scheduled to have another hearing in Albuquerque, NM in January. Also tentatively scheduled is a March hearing in Miami, Fla. and an April hearing in Detroit, Mich.

Other than the task force, eight organizations were awarded grants in 2010 to develop community-based solutions to children's exposure to violence.

"We know that it is possible – in fact, it is within our power – to help the kids who need us most," Holder said. "Research has shown that quality intervention programs can foster healthy child development and, in many cases, counter the negative effects of violence. We've also seen that early interventions with children can help them avoid repeat victimization and future involvement with the criminal justice system."