Pocono News Section

Program Aids Child Abuse Victims

Program Aids Child Abuse Victims - Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 1:41PM EST

Reported by: David DeCosmo WYOU TV News
Tuesday, Oct 21, 2008 @ 01:41pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- There's a new program available to held children deal with trauma caused by sexual or physical abuse.

Friendship House, an agency founded in 1871 to deal with children's behavioral health-care, is providing a program called "Connections." It is a specialized therapeutic service to help children and their families overcome the long-term effects associated with serious forms of trauma or grief and loss.

Therapists say that one of every four girls and one of every six boys in Lackawanna County are sexually abused before age 18. The Connections program helps victims confront their anger and fears. One part of the program for instance allows victims to express their emotions by painting t-shirts with pictures and slogans. Some of the victims are as young as kindergarten age.

Friendship House will be conducting a fund raiser for the Connections program at the Scranton Cultural Center on November 1st. A candlelight vigil for child victims of sexual and physical abuse will be held at the Lackawanna County Courthouse on Thursday evening, October 23rd, beginning at 7:30pm.