Building Good Fences
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In a world where 15% children are sexually abused before they turn 18 (Martinello, 2020), adults everywhere are searching for the answers that will keep their children safe…that will stop them from becoming a part of this terrifying statistic.
You may have heard the saying that "good fences make great neighbors". In the case of protecting our children, good fences (healthy boundaries) are critical and simple. The only problem is, most people don't know how to build them. As a survivor of Childhood Sexual Abuse at the hands of an educator, I am passionate about helping people prevent childhood sexual abuse by teaching healthy external and internal boundaries that will not only help prevent sexual abuse, but also transform victims into survivors. Feeling helpless, too many choose to ignore the subject altogether, hoping against hope that abuse happens only to “other people’s children”. The truth is that there are simple and effective boundaries we can place around and within our children that can significantly increase their safety, and empower them with inner peace and success in the world. |
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Give yourself the peace of mind of knowing that you are equipping your children with the healthy internal and external boundaries that will protect and empower them throughout their lives.
Join me as I share what I have learned from my experience, not only as a survivor, but as an educator, a parent, as a legislative advocate, and now on my journey to becoming a marriage and family therapist, to protect our youth and help survivors heal. 
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Laws Passed in Utah 2015-2019
2015
UT HB345 – Education Abuse Policy (Rep. Dan McCay)
Permanently prohibits anyone with a sexual felony from teaching in the state of Utah.
Requires Local Education Agengies (LEAs) to obtain references and discipline records from prior employees who have unsupervised access to students.
UT HB277 – Statute of Limitations for Civil Actions (Rep. Ken ivory)
Provides that a victim of child sexual abuse may file a civil action at any time. Did not work for those whose statutes had already run.
2016
UT HB175 – Public Education Employment Amendments (Rep. Kraig Powell)
Requires applicants of LEAs to sign waivers, giving access to information on past employee records related to conduct pertaining to their work with children.
UT HB279 - Statute of Limitations Reform Amendments (Rep. Ken Ivory)
Allows child sexual abuse victims to bring a civil action against an alleged perpetrator even though the statute of limitations has run; provides a window of 35 years after attaining 18 years of age to commence an action. Gave a 3 year window to those already over 53 years of age.
2017
UT HB446 – Sentencing Guidelines Amendments (Rep. Ken Ivory)
Requires the Board of Pardons and Parole to develop a list of criteria as rationale for its decisions regarding a person’s sentence. This began the work for a “Trauma Informed State” in Utah.
2018
UT HB177 – Trauma-Informed Justice Provisions (Rep. Ken Ivory
Modifies the duties of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice; creates a trauma-informed justice program, including defining terms; creating a committee; establishing powers and duties of the committee; providing for a performance incentive grant program; and requiring reporting. Funded victim advocates for the Board of Pardons and Parole.
2019
UT HB287 –Sex Offense Amendments (Rep. Ken Ivory)
Defines professors, instructors, and teaching assistants as “positions of special trust” for child sexual abuse. This applies to students directly under their jurisdiction & for whom they have direct impact over the students’ grades and future opportunities.
UT HB391 – Modifications to Government Immunity (Rep. Ken Ivory)
Requires the State School Board to create a model policy establishing a professional standard of care for preventing child sexual abuse. School districts must have and enforce a zero-tolerance policy on child sexual abuse or they lose governmental immunity.
UT HB75 – Sex Offender Registry Amendments (Rep. Ken Ivory)
Closes a loophole to ensure that all who are convicted of unlawful sexual activity with a minor requires registration on the Sex Offender Registry
UT HB430 - Prohibition of Genitalia Mutilation (Rep. Ken Ivory)
Makes performing or facilitating female genital mutilation a second degee felony. (1800 females in UT were at risk.)
UT HB345 – Education Abuse Policy (Rep. Dan McCay)
Permanently prohibits anyone with a sexual felony from teaching in the state of Utah.
Requires Local Education Agengies (LEAs) to obtain references and discipline records from prior employees who have unsupervised access to students.
UT HB277 – Statute of Limitations for Civil Actions (Rep. Ken ivory)
Provides that a victim of child sexual abuse may file a civil action at any time. Did not work for those whose statutes had already run.
2016
UT HB175 – Public Education Employment Amendments (Rep. Kraig Powell)
Requires applicants of LEAs to sign waivers, giving access to information on past employee records related to conduct pertaining to their work with children.
UT HB279 - Statute of Limitations Reform Amendments (Rep. Ken Ivory)
Allows child sexual abuse victims to bring a civil action against an alleged perpetrator even though the statute of limitations has run; provides a window of 35 years after attaining 18 years of age to commence an action. Gave a 3 year window to those already over 53 years of age.
2017
UT HB446 – Sentencing Guidelines Amendments (Rep. Ken Ivory)
Requires the Board of Pardons and Parole to develop a list of criteria as rationale for its decisions regarding a person’s sentence. This began the work for a “Trauma Informed State” in Utah.
2018
UT HB177 – Trauma-Informed Justice Provisions (Rep. Ken Ivory
Modifies the duties of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice; creates a trauma-informed justice program, including defining terms; creating a committee; establishing powers and duties of the committee; providing for a performance incentive grant program; and requiring reporting. Funded victim advocates for the Board of Pardons and Parole.
2019
UT HB287 –Sex Offense Amendments (Rep. Ken Ivory)
Defines professors, instructors, and teaching assistants as “positions of special trust” for child sexual abuse. This applies to students directly under their jurisdiction & for whom they have direct impact over the students’ grades and future opportunities.
UT HB391 – Modifications to Government Immunity (Rep. Ken Ivory)
Requires the State School Board to create a model policy establishing a professional standard of care for preventing child sexual abuse. School districts must have and enforce a zero-tolerance policy on child sexual abuse or they lose governmental immunity.
UT HB75 – Sex Offender Registry Amendments (Rep. Ken Ivory)
Closes a loophole to ensure that all who are convicted of unlawful sexual activity with a minor requires registration on the Sex Offender Registry
UT HB430 - Prohibition of Genitalia Mutilation (Rep. Ken Ivory)
Makes performing or facilitating female genital mutilation a second degee felony. (1800 females in UT were at risk.)
References:
•Martinello, E. (2020). Applying ecological systems theory to sexual revictimization of
youth: A review with implications for research and practice Sexuality and Culture, 24, 326-344. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-019-09629-z
•Martinello, E. (2020). Applying ecological systems theory to sexual revictimization of
youth: A review with implications for research and practice Sexuality and Culture, 24, 326-344. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-019-09629-z