Posted on 02/14/2010 9:59:20 AM PST by Libloather
Officials concerned about protecting youngsters from predators in child welfare system
Spotlight on female workers in wake of recent allegations
By Ofelia Casillas, Tribune Reporter
February 14, 2010
Four times recently adult women have been investigated on allegations of sexually abusing some of the state's most vulnerable teen boys those living in child welfare facilities where they were seeking treatment for abuse, neglect or behavioral problems.
A 29-year-old teacher faces charges of having sex with a 15-year-old in Chicago. A 40-year-old instructor was convicted of having sex with a 16-year-old in a Mundelein institution. A 26-year-old Lake Villa therapist is scheduled to go on trial in April for accusations that she sexually assaulted a 14-year-old.
And now, River Forest police are investigating allegations that a woman in a care-giving role had sexual contact with a teen resident of a child welfare facility.
The string of incidents has raised concern among child welfare officials who wonder if more can be done to protect a fragile population from being preyed upon by the adults who are charged with caring for them.
**SNIP**
"Kids in the system are abused and neglected. Their whole emotional and psychological state is often fragile or compromised. To have a therapist or someone in a position of trust like this either manipulate that fragility or take advantage of it, it's abhorrent," he said.
Experts say the public is largely unaware of the problem, in part because statistics show there are fewer female than male sex offenders and because the offenses contradict the perceptions of women as motherly and nurturing. Also, society has tended to wink at such relationships, some even considering the young men lucky to get sexual attention from a more experienced woman.
(Excerpt) Read more at wgnradio.com ...
Sure sounds like it.
Cougars guarding the hen house...
“Cougars guarding the hen house...”
Did you call some older female a “cougar”!
That’s ageist!
;-)
PS Wouldn’t “chicken coop” be more accurate than “hen house”?
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