ENOUGH ABUSE™ - formerly Massachusetts Citizens for Children/MassKids - works in states and nationally to prevent child abuse and exploitation. Our new name reflects our 6-decades-long commitment to this mission.

Since 2002, we have been a leader in preventing child sexual abuse by:

working with communities, schools and youth organizations;
providing expert training and prevention resources; and
advocating for legislation and policies aimed at preventing child sexual abuse in the first place.

Advocating for laws to prevent child sexual abuse

Latest research documents that 12% of students report having experienced indirect or direct sexual contact with an adult in their school sometime between K-12 grade. Clearly, stricter laws are needed to help schools navigate this threat to children's safety.

For example, the MA Age of Consent law currently prevents police, prosecutors, school officials and even parents from taking legal action in cases of sexual misconduct or abuse of youth 16 or older. Often, abusers manipulate youth into a relationship they believe at the time is consensual. However, the differential in power and age undermines true consent.

As Berkshire County D.A. Timothy Shugrue concluded in response to the sexual abuse of two students by their 56-year old Science teacher: "While the alleged behavior is profoundly troubling, it is not illegal." (Boston.com)

ENOUGH ABUSE™ staff - Executive Director Jetta Bernier and Kathryn Robb, Esq., Children's Justice Campaign Director, testify at the MA State House in favor of bills to prevent child sexual abuse and eliminate the Statute of Limitations.

As one parent testified at a State House Hearing:

"It is unfathomable to me that a 16-year-old in Massachusetts is too young to buy cigarettes, consume alcohol or vote, yet is deemed legally capable of giving consent to have sex with her 49-year-old teacher and that her father and I have no legal recourse against him. We cannot continue to allow individuals we trust with our children and that are in positions of authority, to sexually abuse them and give them the legal cover to claim consent as a defense."

Cases like this are why ENOUGH ABUSE™ has spearheaded the effort since 2015 to pass a set of child sexual abuse prevention bills in Massachusetts that would:

Mandate child sexual abuse prevention education for staff and students in public and private schools and youth organizations, and require adoption of a comprehensive Code of Conduct;
Standardize screening of new school applicants to prevent hiring those with histories of sexual misconduct/abuse, and prohibit schools from giving references for staff engaged in misconduct in exchange for their resignation.
Criminalize sexual abuse of youth by adults in positions of authority, including school employees, regardless of the age of consent;
Eliminate the civil and criminal Statute of Limitations in child sexual abuse cases so survivors can seek justice in the courts at any time.

Thanks to citizens like you, over 1,100 emails were sent to legislators this past session urging them to “Pass the Prevention Package”. Many survivors and advocates testified at State House hearings in favor of passage. In July, ENOUGH ABUSE™ also held a Briefing for Legislators on these bills.

Despite wide support for these laws, the legislature continued its slow pace this session and only a handful of bills, out of several thousand introduced, even made it to a vote. Undaunted, ENOUGH ABUSE™ will pick up the fight again in January and work to provide justice for survivors, accountability for abusers, and prevent future sexual abuse of children.

Supporting Schools to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse

Through our “Safety S.T.A.R.S.” initiative, ENOUGH ABUSE™ provides school districts with free expert technical assistance and resources to strengthen their training, policies and practices to prevent child sexual abuse.

We have trained over 15,000 employees in 165 schools in 9 states with our online, evidence-informed course, “Enough! Preventing Child Sexual Abuse in My School”.

With our curricula “Understanding and Responding to Sexual Behaviors of Children”, we train schools, early childcare providers and parents to identify developmentally-expected behaviors from concerning or problematic ones.

ENOUGH ABUSE™ continues to track prevention laws in other states. The Get Vocal section of our website includes four interactive maps showing which states have passed prevention laws, and a timeline of statute of limitations reform around the country. It includes downloadable advocacy resources for anyone looking to support these bills in their states.

We also host the bimonthly States Policy Exchange, a group of advocates from over 30 states that collaborate around efforts to pass these child sexual abuse prevention laws. Anyone can join. Email [email protected].

The Get Help section of our website includes prevention and support resources. Every week, ENOUGH ABUSE™ receives requests from:

parents seeking information and support for their children who were sexually abused;
adult survivors seeking support or legal help;
advocates inquiring about child sexual abuse prevention legislation; and
citizens eager to take action to prevent child sexual abuse in their communities.

We help them find the help they need, wherever they live. Here are some of our resources:

Get the Facts: What is Child Sexual Abuse?: Learn about child sexual abuse, signs of abuse, what to do if you're suspicious, how to talk to your children, etc.
Straight Talk About Child Sexual Abuse: A Prevention Guide for Parents: Get the information and skills you need to strengthen safety within your family.
Bookshelf: Links to books on CSA prevention and healing, memoirs by survivors, and children's books on body safety and boundaries.
Pledge to Prevent® : A way for everyone to take specific, doable actions to prevent sexual abuse in their home or community.
Resources for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: Descriptions and links to over 60 survivor support services.
Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation: Definitions of child sexual abuse material, sextortion, online child sexual abuse and exploitation, tips for parents to keep children safe, and links to educational resources.

New Book Provides Insight Into Sexual Misconduct in Schools

In Organizational Betrayal, educational researcher Dr. Charol Shakeshaft advocates a system-wide approach for safeguarding K–12 students against educator sexual misconduct.

Shakeshaft advocates for improving student safety through protections, such as training all members of the school community about sexual abuse and its prevention, clear policies to detail prohibited adult-student interactions, protocols to respond early and appropriately to boundary violations, and reporting. Click here to order.

"This compelling and heartfelt documentation of educator sexual misconduct is a magnum opus for the prevention field. It should be required reading for every teacher in training, school administrator, school employee, school committee member, and parent. Shakeshaft's challenge to every school is clear: You must choose uncompromisingly to protect the children in your care, not shield those who abuse them."

- Jetta Bernier, Executive Director, ENOUGH ABUSE™

We Couldn't Do This Without You

Please donate to ENOUGH ABUSE™ today. Join us in our crucial work to protect children from the devastating, yet preventable, consequences of child sexual abuse for their health, mental health and educational success.

Your support will result in tangible outcomes and help us reach our goals faster and for more children.

Working together, we can create transformative social change to end child sexual abuse.

We are changemakers for children. We are building a movement. Join us.

Jetta Bernier, Executive Director

ENOUGH ABUSE™

Contact ENOUGH ABUSE™