BY THOR JOURGENSEN
LYNN — Attorney James J. Carrigan has seen sexual abuse ruin too many lives.
As a result, he is working with local social service agency directors to host three training sessions, beginning tomorrow, focused on identifying abusers and helping the abused.
“We hope we can reach a lot of people and get the attention of the public,” Carrigan said.
Jetta Bernier, executive director of Massachusetts Citizens for Children, talks about her work and the “enough abuse” campaign Tuesday at 4 p.m. at City Hall.
The discussion sets the stage for abuse prevention training workshops scheduled on April 27 and 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the City Council chamber. Participants must pre-register by calling 781-309-5619.
Training participants will include social agency workers, law enforcement experts and educators, said Carrigan. My Brother’s Table, one of the region’s largest soup kitchens, is sending representatives because the downtown nonprofit serves clients who, in some cases, are enduring abuse.
Dianne Kuzia Hills, My Brother’s Table executive director, said the workshops are intended to help educate colleagues on how to detect sexual predators and assist clients who have been abused.
Parents and some child care workers are unaware of warning signs or precautions necessary to spot and minimize abuse. Carrigan said children often draw or otherwise visually depict abuse or potential abuse situations. Parents should not dismiss a child’s attempt to talk about a situation that makes them uncomfortable.
“Just that one step could save that child,” Carrigan said.
Lynn Economic Opportunity is another organization participating in the training.
Birgitta Damon, LEO’s executive director, said training goals will partly focus on ways sexual predators seek to gain a child’s trust.
Kuzia Hills said an offshoot of this month’s training is efforts by the Lynn Health Task Force to train nurses in advanced skills associated with examining and helping victims. She said Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) trainer qualifications are vital to providing the evidentiary safeguards required to prosecute abusers and sexual assaulters.
North Shore Medical Center (NSMC) is working with the Task Force to get Union Hospital and Salem Hospital nurses trained in the SANE program, said Kevin Ronningen, an NSMC spokesman.
Thor Jourgensen can be reached at tjourgensen@itemlive.com