Brown Center for Autism leads fight to protect most vulnerable

It's a taboo that parents at the Brown Center for Autism don't want to talk about.

Their children, and all kids with developmental disabilities, are four times more likely to be sexually abused than their peers. That's especially scary for parents of children who cannot speak.

Protecting those children is the idea behind a training program gathering momentum in Nashville — an approach that Juli Liske, founder of the Brown Center, thinks holds great promise for guarding against the unthinkable.

Her center already has a reputation that draws families willing to relocate to Nashville from across the country and around the world. Now Liske wants to set the standard for how local child-serving agencies prevent child sexual abuse.

"It's a topic that our parents hate. And they always feel there are no good solutions," Liske said.

But she sees many steps that organizations can take. The way Liske designed therapy rooms, the staff policies in place and the center's surveillance system all take on the mission of protecting kids.

"We wish other people would model what we're doing," she said.

Liske's wish has backers. This spring, the newly formed Nashville Child Protection Coalition launched a campaign to explain best practices for organizations and to train 25,000 adults on the latest methods of preventing sex abuse.

Local nonprofits agreed that a two-hour class, "Stewards of Children," teaches the right approach. The class points out that kids can't protect themselves. So the responsibility falls on adults, and especially leaders of after-school programs, gyms, churches and schools, to be their protectors.

Liske bought in. She required all her staffers to go through the training and she became an instructor. Later this month, she'll go further, asking Brown Center parents to take the training.

Cameras watching

Parents of autistic children say there's something different about the Brown Center. There's an openness and a sense of trust they feel as soon as they walk inside.

"It's an automatic: 'We have nothing to hide here,' " said Denisse Edwards of Mt. Juliet.

Here's how Liske sets the tone:

It starts with the spaces. In every therapy room, a window with a one-way mirror allows supervisors and parents to peek in at any time on typically one-on-one sessions.

Up above, there's a camera in every room feeding footage out to the real surprise for first-time visitors: a separate viewing room where parents camp out each day, watching (and recording) therapy sessions in real-time.

"This is the only place we go where I can watch him," said parent Kristin Waldran of Nolensville.

The technology doesn't stand alone. Liske conducts deep background checks on staff. And she doesn't disguise her expectations for employees and interns.

"That says a lot about the integrity of a person who is willing to come work for an agency and who knows they're going to be under surveillance at all times," she said. "They see all the cameras, they see the monitors, they see the parents observing."

Missions at stake

Seeing such an all-out effort from the Brown Center has brought new energy to the local coalition's fight against sex abuse, said Katherine Snyder, programs director for Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee.

As the director of the trainings, Snyder said the coalition got its start with the "usual suspects" — mostly child advocacy nonprofits — but has since diversified. The Brown Center adds a voice from the disability services community.

The trainings also have the backing of the Crichton Group, an insurance agency for numerous local nonprofits that sent company Vice President Cooper Jones through the class this year.

His firm has long guided organizations on how to set policies and find quality employees.

"What's at stake? Honestly, it's their missions," Jones said after the class. "If you have an organization that prides itself on being a safe place for kids, or elderly adults, and they do have somebody who gets through the system and hurts kids or other vulnerable people, you're really looking at the name of the organization. And fundraising comes with that."

Yet those who go through the training know that proper policies only go so far.

There's also need to create a culture where discussing sexual abuse isn't the taboo that it is today.

Courage to talk about the issue

Giving parents the courage to talk about it — that's the reason Liske plans to take Brown Center families through the training.

"Our concern is, when they leave here, do the parents have the skills to ask?" she said.

Most families with autistic children connect with an array of therapists, including some who help inside their homes. Liske wants parents to know what to watch for and how to set ground rules to keep kids safe.

For Edwards, mother of an autistic 2-year-old son, , concerns about sexual abuse hadn't crossed her mind until Liske brought it up.

"It's such an uncomfortable topic, but that's why I want to go to the training," she said.

Liske wants other agencies to get on board, but she knows costs could be a challenge to go as far as she has. The surveillance system cost about $20,000, and she's already seeking grants and donations to upgrade to the newest technology.

"To put that system in is worth one child having a bad experience," Liske said. "Every penny of it, and more."

Reach Tony Gonzalez at 615-259-8089 or on Twitter @tgonzalez.

Get trained

Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee coordinates training sessions for child sexual abuse prevention known as Stewards of Children. Some funding is available from the HCA Foundation for organizations that cannot afford to pay for the program. For more information call 615-383-0994.

Report abuse

If a child speaks out about abuse, call 911 or Tennessee's abuse and neglect hotline at 877-237-0004. Abuse must be reported under Tennessee law, and information may be provided anonymously.

Protecting children from sex abuse

1. Minimize opportunity

Eliminate or reduce isolated, one-on-one situations between adults and children, especially in child care settings.

2. Talk about it

Have open conversations with children about bodies, sex and boundaries. Understand that children can be afraid to talk about abuse and often test the waters with subtle comments. Use appropriate and accurate names for body parts and explain to children that they should not keep "secrets" from parents.

3. Recognize the signs

Signs to watch for include unexplained injuries, such as bruises in the shapes of objects; children returning to behaviors such as thumb-sucking or bed-wetting; fear of going home; changes in eating or sleeping patterns; excessive school absences; and inappropriate sexual behaviors or language.

4. React responsibly

Allow children to talk, do not ask leading questions and do not make broad promises about the future. Be careful about showing anger toward the offender.

Sources: Tennessee Child Advocacy Centers and "Stewards of Children" training