Child sexual abuse is a public health issue that needs to be addressed publicly
The Mama Bear Effect launched in the fall of 2012 with the conviction that child sexual abuse can be prevented when adults have access to information and resources that are down-to-earth and empower them to take steps to protect children. The Mama Bear Effect educational website was built so that anyone could learn about the issues, how to talk to children, and take sufficient action to reduce risk of abuse.
With our printed resources, we donate to advocates that want to raise awareness and make a difference in their community. We also partner with numerous charities and child advocacy centers across the country that organize community outreach to help prevent abuse and support families as they go through the healing process after a disclosure.
In 2021, we initiated our first research project, to discover where parents and caregivers wanted to receive information on sexual abuse prevention. The response was overwhelming: the majority of people believe pediatricians should be educating parents and children, yet most do not address the topic during visits. With this information, we knew we needed to fill the gap and customize materials specifically for pediatric centers. We collaborated with renowned pediatrician, Martin Finkel of the CARES center to create a Pediatric Best Practices Guide, produce a short video for doctors and medical professional to understand the role they play in educating families, and Pediatric Kits - with posters, brochures, and books to help pediatricians start a conversation and provide resources for further learning at home.
We know, the sooner parents and caregivers are aware of the issues of child sexual abuse and have access to information on how to best protect the children they love, the better they can reduce the risk of abuse. And in cases where abuse is perpetrated, it can often be detected or disclosed sooner, and children can start the healing process faster and with a stronger support system.