**6. Conclusion**

Although based on the views of only a relatively small number of participants, this study provides clarity with regard to the ways survivors of child sexual abuse cope with their experiences and associated emotions, especially when support was and/or was not available. The study further revealed influence that could be exerted by idiosyncratic factors, such as one's racial/cultural background, in deciding on the type of strategies to adopt in dealing with a difficult situation. Cultural factors in particular, influence individuals' worldviews, and shape the way they see the world and their place in it. Most importantly, it shapes the way meanings are given to experiences and are passed between individuals, groups and generations (Eckersley, 2007). The implication for counselling is that one solution may not necessary be suitable for all cases. Interventions should consider the client's culture, and if not, they may not succeed or could lead to interventions that may cause damage to the clients (Cross-Tower, 2005). A suggestion to counselors, professionals and paraprofessionals is to obtain a broad knowledge of the beliefs and cultures of their clients before offering intervention services.

Several limitations to this study are evident. The sample size was too small to permit generalizations to a wider group of sexually abused survivors. Additionally, the views of male survivors were not captured, nor the views participants of all population groups in South Africa. Biases in the recruitment strategy are possible, as participants were only those who were based at the social welfare units. Survivors referred to such agencies are likely to have experienced serious forms of abuse and are receiving emotional support from the counseling services at the institutions where they are based. It would be interesting to capture views of survivors who have not yet received any form of emotional support.

#### **7. References**


from the abusive situation. For young children with no resources or capability to deal with the situation it becomes easier for them to resort to "quick fix" strategies, especially if

Although based on the views of only a relatively small number of participants, this study provides clarity with regard to the ways survivors of child sexual abuse cope with their experiences and associated emotions, especially when support was and/or was not available. The study further revealed influence that could be exerted by idiosyncratic factors, such as one's racial/cultural background, in deciding on the type of strategies to adopt in dealing with a difficult situation. Cultural factors in particular, influence individuals' worldviews, and shape the way they see the world and their place in it. Most importantly, it shapes the way meanings are given to experiences and are passed between individuals, groups and generations (Eckersley, 2007). The implication for counselling is that one solution may not necessary be suitable for all cases. Interventions should consider the client's culture, and if not, they may not succeed or could lead to interventions that may cause damage to the clients (Cross-Tower, 2005). A suggestion to counselors, professionals and paraprofessionals is to obtain a broad knowledge of the beliefs and cultures of their

Several limitations to this study are evident. The sample size was too small to permit generalizations to a wider group of sexually abused survivors. Additionally, the views of male survivors were not captured, nor the views participants of all population groups in South Africa. Biases in the recruitment strategy are possible, as participants were only those who were based at the social welfare units. Survivors referred to such agencies are likely to have experienced serious forms of abuse and are receiving emotional support from the counseling services at the institutions where they are based. It would be interesting to capture views of survivors who have not yet received any form of emotional support.

Barbarin, O.A., Ritcher, L. & de Wet, T. (2001) Exposure to violence, coping resources, and

Brand, B.L. & Alexandra, P.C. (2003). Coping with incest: the relationship between

Brodhagen, A. & Wise, D. (2008). Optimism as a mediator between the experiences of child

Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing grounded theory: A practical guide through qualitative

Collings, S. J. (1995). The long-term effects of contact and non-contact forms of child sexual abuse in a sample of University men. Child Abuse and Neglect, 19 (1), 1-6. Crossan-Tower, C. (2005). Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect (6thed.). Pearson

psychological adjustment of South African children. American Journal of

recollections of childhood coping and adult functioning in females survivors of

abuse, other traumatic events, and distress. Journal of Family Violence, 23 (6), 403-

attempts to stop the abuse are frustrated.

clients before offering intervention services.

Orthopsychiatry 71 (1), 16-25.

Incest. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 16 (3), 285-293.

analysis. London, England: Sage Publications.

**6. Conclusion** 

**7. References** 

411.

Education, Inc.


**12** 

*USA* 

**What Went Wrong at Ohel Children's Home –** 

The cover-up of sex crimes at the expense of child victims has become an all-too-familiar story in many religious communities. The protection of priests accused of child molestation by the Catholic Church hierarchy is now a matter of record; more recent publicity has identified Orthodox Jewish communities as another locus of such misconduct (Dorff, 2009). Central to such cover-ups is an institution powerful enough to suppress the evidence of abuse and motivated to do it. This chapter presents an analysis – for the first time – of the role in the suppression of child abuse scandals played by the American Orthodox Jewish community's most prominent child welfare agency. The agency, Ohel Children's Home and Family Services (hereafter, "Ohel"), is a large state-licensed agency located in a heavily Orthodox wedge of Brooklyn, New York, and performs foster care, adoption and counseling services. The Ohel agency first opened its doors in 1969. Rapidly, it grew into what the *Village Voice* in 1994 dubbed a "bulwark" of the Orthodox community (Barrett & Bowles, 1994), with a budget of over \$4 million, and political ties that have brought U.S. Senators, Congressmen, state legislators and New York City mayors to its annual fundraising dinners. Given the nature of its services – foster care was always one of its priorities – the agency dealt early with problems of child abuse. In early 1997, the agency doubled its investment in the issue by opening a program for child sex offenders. That program was shuttered after about five years (Winston, 2009b), but the agency continues to highlight its role in working with child victims of abuse. In April 2009, Ohel and the Brooklyn District Attorney, Charles J. Hynes, jointly announced the formation of a special program called "Kol Tzedek," the ostensible purpose of which was to encourage the highly insular Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn to recognize the seriousness of child sex abuse, and to confront the problem honestly – with steps including reporting all such abuse to appropriate city or state

Lamentably, the agency's actual record belies these stated intentions. In February 2011, Ohel was skewered in an exposé reported by Hella Winston of the *Jewish Week*. Winston's article contained damning evidence that Ohel had blatantly ignored New York statutes requiring

the reporting of suspected child abuse to state authorities. (Winston, 2011a).

**1. Introduction** 

authorities (Winston, 2009a).

**and What Can Be Done About Its Failure to** 

**Protect Jewish Children from Abuse?** 

Amy Neustein and Michael Lesher

*Help Us Regain The Children Legal Research Center* 

