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Show nlucertion Exey tfo prevention 1 Second of a Two-Part Series '-'.houeh there is no single answer to i problem of child molest and i crimes, it is something that "if "'(cooperate, is treatable and can 1 "Jped," say personnel at the Uintah L-ty Social Services office. for main jjoal is to keep families said Doug Gale, Social about the type of help through his office. we of Social Service's role as a counselor, they don't investigate criminal sex offenses, but refer them to the appropriate law enforcement authority. "If there is an offense, we automatically involve the police,'" Gale said. "It is our policy not to do criminal investigation, but to work hand-in-hand with the police." With many referrals first reported to the Social Services, initial investigations in-vestigations are done in their office, and they also handle many referrals from the police department or sheriff's office. So if you want to report a sex crime or child molesting who should you call, the police department or social services? According to Gale, if it is reported to either agency it will get to the proper people. Social Services has a 24-hour number 789-5528 which can be used in an emergency and the police department's number is 789-4222 and sheriff's department is 789-2511. Some of the services available at Social Services which can be used in helping people involved in sex crimes are mental health counciling, protective services, alcohol and drug counciling (alcohol and drugs are involved in-volved in many cases), battered spouse program and foster care. Gale's feeling about sex crimes, especially child neglect or abuse, concurs with police reports they are increasing. In 1980 there were 80 cases where protective services were required by Social Services and so far this year there have been over 200 cases in Uintah County, Gale said. Cases requiring protective service is any problem which requires the family members or persons involved to. be separated for a jperiod of time these problems include things from child (Continued on Page 2) Child abuse - - - (Continued from Page 1) neglect to sex crimes. Vernal City Police report that sex crimes are increasing in the area and are effecting younger children. Utah statistics show that the age of five years to eight is the most vulnerable for reported child abuse or neglect. In 1979-80 there were over 1,600 children in Utah affected in the 5-8 year old group. The report also shows that the reported type of child abuse or neglect most common in Utah is non-supervision non-supervision which increased from 1,000 children in 1978-79 to 1,400 children in 1979-80. Other cases which increased in 1980 were physical abuse, sexual abuse, education neglect, emotional neglect, medical neglect, physical neglect, abandonment. The best prevention of child abuse or neglect is education, said Doug Gale. Social Services has been showing films in schools concerning this problem and also is being involved in planning a seminar on child abuse, but the problem now is public participation. The tentative date for the child molest seminar, sponsored by the Uintah County Sheriff's Department is Feb. 11, 1982. Last Friday several members of the community were asked for input concerning the seminar. During the seminar people specialized in child molest education will speak at schools and to the community, com-munity, said Fern Reynolds, Uintah County Sheriff's Department. "The purpose of the program will be to educate people to spot the signs of child abuse and help with the problem," Mrs. Reynolds said. The program will use the resources available through the Uintah County Social Services and also resources from the Wasatch Front. That much misused word "chauvinist" was derived from the name of a soldier under Napoleon, Nicolas Chauvin. His shameless sycophancy led to his name be- coming a word meaning blind attachment to group. s |